Author Topic: Reunion with Original Owner  (Read 4941 times)

ChrisInNashville

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Reunion with Original Owner
« on: May 08, 2021, 19:17:34 »
This is Calla.  She bought “our girl” new from the dealer in 1968 (‘69 model year) and kept meticulous records and every receipt and document from the sticker forward for the 36 years that it was her daily driver.  She painted it red, in the 80’s.   When I bought the car in ‘04, we became pen pals and have corresponded ever since. 



Now, the 4year restoration is complete and after a year of waiting for vaccines, I sent her a ticket this morning to fly from Long Beach CA to Nashville to see “our girl” in her original form in early June.   We are both excited to have this to look forward to! 



More of this story as it rolls out.  She’s now in her 80’s and is a bundle of energy driving her Mini Cooper in SoCal.  Note that I’ve kept her license plate as part of the provenance.

‘69 280 SL
‘24 GLE450e
Tennessee, USA

Rahul

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2021, 21:09:54 »
Great story!
1971 280SL auto #571 over parchment

Garry

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2021, 21:28:37 »
What a great story
Looking forward to seeing the same photos of the meet up again after so many years.
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
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JamesL

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2021, 06:13:11 »
That’s awesome. Look forwards to seeing more pictures and hearing more

James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

RAY

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2021, 07:07:31 »
Fantastic, bet she will be thrilled to be with her car again.

114015

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2021, 12:50:35 »
Absolutely fantastic, Chris.

This is going to be a story for PagodaWorld ....! ;D 8)





Achim
Achim
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Jonny B

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2021, 15:23:29 »
Already in progress!
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
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Paul & Dolly

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2021, 07:43:26 »
How fantastic Chris,

look forward to seeing more  of the reunion.

Paul
Paul (located in Cardiff - Wales - UK)
1967 Early 250 SL (Auto) White
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WRe

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2021, 08:16:46 »
Hello,
when I bought my Pagoda 12 years ago, I also followed up on its history.
For a few days, the first owner was a former MB subsidiary that had lost its status. The actual customer was an entrepreneur who nevertheless ordered his vehicles there. They were always new sports cars from MB, which he always ordered in the basic configuration with automatic transmission and radio without any other extras.
I was able to phone the son of this entrepreneur who had succeeded his father. His father had already passed away, but his mother continued to follow his tradition and was still owner of a Mercedes SL.
The son told me that his father drove the pagoda every day and everywhere, preferably for fishing.
The next owners were father and daughter and one brought it to Spain where he needed a confirmation from Mercedes that this car was shipped without seat belds and can be used without it. It then came back to Düsseldorf, where it was repainted and many parts were replaced. The last previous owner then had a lot of sheet metal work done, with stainless steel exhaust and electronic ignition at a well known Pagoda workshop.
Now I've been driving the car for 12 years without any major problems, except for replacing the automatic transmission with a used one and I'm very satisfied with it.
...WRe

ChrisInNashville

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2021, 09:54:47 »
Calla has arrived from Long Beach.  She brought this picture of the day she was packed and moving from Houston to LA in 1987 before she painted the car red.  Seeing the trunk decal, I’m suddenly inspired to place those reproduction decals I purchased 15 years ago....hmmm, I need to go find them  :)

‘69 280 SL
‘24 GLE450e
Tennessee, USA

ChrisInNashville

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2021, 23:56:46 »
I've been busy and forgot to post the article when it was published last month.



‘69 280 SL
‘24 GLE450e
Tennessee, USA

Cees Klumper

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2021, 05:47:27 »
Great story!
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

WRe

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2021, 06:18:34 »
Great story, thanks for sharing!
...WRe

RAY

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2021, 12:02:51 »
Great story and as we say time and time again it,s as much about the lovely people that own them as the cars themselves.

PSB

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #14 on: August 17, 2021, 20:52:20 »
Great article !
Now my "stupid" question: where the hidden compartment for values that is referred to in the article ?

Cheers
Pedro

DaveB

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #15 on: August 17, 2021, 21:52:30 »
Great story indeed!
Pedro, I guess the hidden compartment is beneath the parcel shelves.
DaveB
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ChrisInNashville

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #16 on: August 17, 2021, 22:30:06 »
Well, I kinda asked the same thing.   It's the platform behind the seats where the kinder seat would go.   She considered them "secret compartments"....she also recalled it being more accessible than it is since the carpet was swapped out....in any event, she hid her money and jewelry there on trips.  Hmmm...
‘69 280 SL
‘24 GLE450e
Tennessee, USA

csjose

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #17 on: August 22, 2021, 00:42:13 »
What a nice story !
280SL 1971

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #18 on: March 15, 2022, 10:18:39 »
I woke up early this morning and came across this fantastic story. I can only concur with others when I stay "What a nice story!"

Thanks for sharing.

It reminded me of an encounter I had here on this site with a German fellow that I communicated with briefly here on the site. He searched and found the Pagoda after his dad sold it to someone in America. Once he found it and it was for sale, he brought it back to Germany as his car.

Somehow he never got back to me, that was too bad. It would have made a Nice PW story.

Dieter

 
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

waltklatt

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Re: Reunion with Original Owner
« Reply #19 on: April 06, 2022, 15:16:54 »
Great story!
The secret compartment under the rear 3rd seat was where I kept my removable radio back in the days.
Didnt want to lug around a radio sized box with the handle, before the faceplate removal.
Walter