New member introductions

[MichaelB.]

New member as of today. Have known the car forever, but finally ended up with the means to purchase. 1966 230SL manual trans - light ivory with Havana hard top and a goldenrod soft top.  Original, no paint work, no interior work, no needed engine work at 69K miles. Near showroom new with just reproduction Cooker tires as the only modification.

It is truly a pleasure to drive and so much more enjoyable than my past 1961 190SL that this replaces.

I am smitten with this gem.

[Mike Hughes]

Sounds like a lovely car.  What interior?

[Garry]

MB,
Does in deed sound like a great car.  I had both a '59 190SL and my '69 280 SL.  Was getting too many cars so I choose the 280 SL as the preferred vehicle for the sunny days and sold the 190.  I agree the Pagoda is so much nicer to drive than the 190SL and I have no regrets.

[MichaelB.]

The interior is a natural brown. I do have the color codes right from the factory papers (all documents included as well as the original title and dealership bill of sale etc.), I will provide all of that tomorrow so that with your help we can decipher it all.

I will try to instert this image from about a year ago to:

[MichaelB.]

Okay, looking at the data card I see Jan 1966 build. Color 181 light beige, hardtop 408 Havana, seats 1131 brown MB-tex (#17 - 1), soft top looks to be 745 beige. The soft top is 100% original and it is a gorgeous light gold tone. Beige as a name is under-estimating its beauty.

Car came with heavy duty heater, paint coat preservative, garnish moldings on hardtop, white wall tires, 10 liters of fuel.

Its a stunner.

[thelews]

Show us some more pictures!  Where are you located?  Looks like a super car.  No power steering, stick?

[MichaelB.]

quote:Originally posted by thelews

Show us some more pictures!  Where are you located?  Looks like a super car.  No power steering, stick?

Thank you John, but after looking at your photo book I am humbled! That red car of yours is serious.

This 1966 of mine had been in Conn nearly all its life. It was purchased in Conn at Nelke Motors brand new, then the owner transferred to the Midwest within the last many years. No power steering, manual trans (four speed).

It is raining like Noah is returning but after that clears up I will post a new thread with additional good photos.

[thelews]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelB.

quote:Originally posted by thelews

Show us some more pictures!  Where are you located?  Looks like a super car.  No power steering, stick?

Thank you John, but after looking at your photo book I am humbled! That red car of yours is serious.

This 1966 of mine had been in Conn nearly all its life. It was purchased in Conn at Nelke Motors brand new, then the owner transferred to the Midwest within the last many years. No power steering, manual trans (four speed).

It is raining like Noah is returning but after that clears up I will post a new thread with additional good photos.

Thanks Michael.  I look forward to your pics.  No power steering and stick 230 SL is the purest of the 113s.  Enjoy!

[i want my moms w113]

my name is dustin and my mom has a 66 230sl automatic that she will not give me but im never giving up, i got plans

[Richard Madison]

[originally posted by new member "Joel". Moved here to keep introductions in the same thread]

Joel, living in Vancouver, Canada, in January bought a 65 MB 230SL from a dealer in Santa Barbara, California, some work to do, body and soft top, otherwise runs well and great to drive [/navy]

[followed by a welcome from "Scoot"]


[Moved by Richard M, Moderator]

[Richard Madison]

[Originally posted by new member "Don D. Evans". Msg moved here to keep introductions in the same thread.]

Hi everyone......

I just found this site, and want to introduce myself. I bought my '67 250 SL with factory ZF 5-speed tranny in about 1983. At that time I did not know much about these cars (still don't), but my wife and I wanted it. We live in Pleasanton, Ca, not far from San Francisco.

I don't know anything about the history of the car, but maybe with the help of the people on this site I can fill in the gaps on my knowledge.

Don Evans
Pleasanton, CA
_____________________

[Douglas Kim added this welcome:]
That's a very rare and special car. Congrats and welcome, Don. Now we need to see pix!
Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[Moved by Richard M, Moderator]

[Richard Madison]

[Originally posted by "bckiernan". Moved here with other New Member Introductions.]

Hello Pagoda SL Group,

I live in Illinois and have recently taken possession of a 1969 Signal Red/Black 4-speed. A lot of mechanical work was recently done and the interior is in very good condition. The car was painted a some time ago (+10 years) and now is in need of some care. I do not know much about the history as the previous owner only owned the car for 2 years.

I look forward to finding out more about the history of the car and hope the knowledge and experience of the membership will help as I get it back into shape.

Brian Kiernan
________________
"jsaylor" posted a welcome:

Brian,

Welcome! It's a great group. Don't hesitate to ask for help.

ALOHA,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Saylor
Kauai, Hawaii
'65 230SL

[Moved by Richard M, Moderator]

[Dash808]

A few years ago I talked my Dad out of his '67 250sl.  We picked it up in Naples almost 30 yrs ago.  It's nice to keep it in the family (insert grin here). and hopefully I can pass it on one day too.  It's pretty much still how we got it 30 yrs ago.  
Only mod was done by the original owner and that was installing a propane tank and lines to have the option of running off propane. It worked fine but we've since taken it out.
Anyway, great site you've got here!

[tfische2]

Hello all,
I'm a new member in this forum and live in the south of the UK. I'm interested if there are some other UK Pagoda freaks in this forum to share some pain of restauration. I have a 230 SL, manual, original colour is light ivory, imported from the USA and I'm closed to finish all the body welding work.
Thanks in advance
Thomas

[JamesL]

Hi Thomas, and welcome

naj

If you remember nothing else about your time here, remember that name. He's been there before you and seemingly has a memory for part numbers!

I assume you are familiar with Mervyn at Mercedes Benz of Poole. If not now, you will be as he's the best classic parts fella in the UK MB network. Also gives a 10% discount to MB club members.... He's not on the links page (via the home page), but other parts suppliers are.

Have you a flickr or something that can be used so you can share your pain with us in photos?

[Naj ✝︎]

quote:Originally posted by tfische2


 I'm interested if there are some other UK Pagoda freaks in this forum to share some pain of restauration. I have a 230 SL, manual, original colour is light ivory, imported from the USA and I'm closed to finish all the body welding work.
Thanks in advance
Thomas

Yes, would be nice to have a get together for a chin wag!!

Anybody else interested?

naj

[Kemal]

Hi Thomas,

Welcome to the real world!: :mrgreen: ')

Kemal
280SL
Manual LHD69

quote:Originally posted by tfische2

Hello all,
I'm a new member in this forum and live in the south of the UK. I'm interested if there are some other UK Pagoda freaks in this forum
Thomas

[tfische2]

Hello Tosh,
I have lots of photos. I bring the car next week to Birmingham and it will be cleaned and zinked. Front axle is finished and looks better than new, rear axle I'm working on at the moment.The engine is in Germany with an experienced Pagoda person and he is testing the motor. I'm looking for a good, and of course cheap, upholstery in my area. Did someboby has experience with a company in the south of the UK ?

[jameshoward]

Hi Thomas,

I am in London, about 5 miles from Naj and about 2 miles from Kemal. Tosh is a little bit Eastside but I still talk to him.

If we did all want to get together, there's a MB Club midnight run (not sure it's actually at midnight) on 22 Nov meeting up at the Ace Cafe (a big classic car spot).

Anyone?

James

Etc.

James

[Bonnyboy]

Hello All.  I'm 42 with a wonderful wife and 2 awsome kids and work for the Govt and live in one of the most expensive communities on the earth (so it seems) so I have very little disposable income.  After years of drooling over Pagodas, I obtained the car of my dreams last spring, An unrestored 69 280sl Euro version that I drove several times back in the early 90s.  I obsessed over that car and offered to purchase it at every opportunity when I talked to the old owner even though I could never afford it).   

I went looking for another euro model to restore to original that had a black leather interior and a 4 speed but all I found were automatics or american versions with the US headlights / bumpers and no spot lights.   After 20 years the owner finally offered me the first right of refusal and I spent every dime I could scrape together or borrow to get the car I just had to have.  I still haven't seen it since I bought it as I bought it sight un-seen and it is presently 750 miles away tucked in a shed suspended 6' in the air above general clutter - I do have full insurance on it though.   

My sl hasn't been on the road since 1994 and it wasn't stored properly (drain fuel / additives / oil in cylinder etc.) so I expect that I will have my work cut out for me.  Apparently the old owner was getting too many speeding tickets so he parked it and bought a Firefly to drive - he says the Sl is like a dream to drive over 100 mph though. 

The car is a European model with a white exterior and hardtop, black leather interior, 4 speed tranny, spotlights on the front and a soft top that has never been up.  It was originally sold in Denmark and brought to california and then imported into Canada in the mid 80's.  It has a Mercedes replacement engine with 30k on it done sometime in the 80's.  The interior is partially taken apart and he said one seat bracket is broke.  Other than that it sounds like it was driven hard and then one day put away wet. 

I have a MGB which was disassembled when I bought the SL so I had to build it up before I could move it out of my garage so I can start to build a new garage.  I just got permits and expect to start digging for a foundation in the next couple weeks.   I hope to have the SL (and MGB) in my garage together in the Spring of 09 and the SL on the road by next Fall. 

If anyone in Vancouver would like to chat to a newby to Mercedes Sls, I'm available.

Ian

[Mike Hughes]

Welcome!  Pagoda and MGB - good combination!

[dorian]

Hi all! 

I'm the proud owner of a white '69 280SL since 1998, probably the highest-mileage Pagoda known with (2)41K miles currently showing on the odometer.  I've been working on it bit by bit over the last 10 years and now it needs very little -- I drive it and enjoy it!

I ran another Pagoda site for 7 years, but recently shut it down and began helping with the process of merging its content with the SL group's archives.

Ian/Bonnyboy2 - I'm in Seattle.  Hope to see you at the German auto show in North Vancouver soon.  Summer 2010?

[dorian]

[JamesL]

welcome Dorian. Delighted that the archives will be shared, lots of useful stuff on your old site. The light bulb stuff, in particular, I found very very useful

[Richard Madison]

Welcome Dorian...the Pagoda113 website will always be part of the grand history of these elegant cars.

Richard M, NYC

[Cees Klumper]

Welcome Dorian!

Here's my son (in the middle) with Dorian's son and daughter, now some 6 years ago, when we got together to discuss possibly merging the two sites - sometimes good things take a little time ...