New member introductions

[Drewtee]

Bloody gorgeous!

[Peter van Es]

Very, very nice indeed!

[wd]

Hello.  Just recently bought a 1970 dk red, looks brown to me, 1970 sl.  Original owner, and the car just turned 90k.   Have owned a 69 280se coupe for a few years now.  Both run well. Used site to do research on buying points forthe car, thanks.  Not sure I should have done this, was swaying on whether I should keep the coupe.  Woke up the next day thinking well I have my favorite two cars, then, oh what have I done!!  Original owner won the car in a polictical party raffle during 1969.  They came up short on the purchase price so he had to wait for them to make the difference up on other raffles/fund raisers.  He finally got a 70.  A very interesting man who unfortunately passed a few hours after I bought the car.  Enjoy the site, lots of good information.

[Garry]

WD
Welcome to the forum. Lets see some Pictures.

I often joke about being buried in my car.  Given the PO's unfortunate demise just after selling his Pagoda, I  suggest you do not consider selling it I also suggest there would be some on this forum that could do the same as the PO if they sold their Pagoda's.  

[naniroma0]

hola,me presento aqui como propietario de un pagoda 280sl color azul y cambio automatico.
saludos desde Navarra

[Dash808]

Bonjour.

[knockmacool]

Bienvenido! Encontraras aqui todo tipo de informacion sobre estos coches. Ademas, es un grupo de gente muy interesante.

Drew

[France]

Yikes, dum...in Athens traffic??  Welcome!  By the way, we're not all guys; there are some ladies on here too.

[twistedtree]

Thanks for the welcome.  I suppose like everyone here, I've been a car enthusiast since I was a kid, and was quite obsessed through my 20's.  Along the way I worked on many cars both for myself and professionally, but very little on Mercedes.  They were just out of my reach.  My most extensive projects were full restorations of a BMW 2002, and a '63 E-Type.  Then along came kids and other aspects of life took over.  I finally sold the E-Type to put an addition on my house.  That was 20 years ago and until now cars have just been tools for me.

I always loved the Pagodas and started thinking about getting an older car again.  Then for Xmas and my 50th, my wife gave me one.  Not an actual one, but she set the gears in motion and engaged a friend who's a car buyer to try to find one.  I'll follow up in a few days with the story of my purchase.

[dr aj]

Have owned my 1970 280SL for 31 years. In 1980 installed a 240D engine and turbo'd it. Later added 5spd trans and 3.23 rear. In 2000 after blowing out the 240TD replaced it with a 300td engine. All the moving parts in the engine and turbo were moly-chromed. At present this car burns 25% recycled vegtable oil and gets 30-35 mpg. Runs sweet. Will send pictures later.

[Peter van Es]

Welcome Twistedtree and Dr AJ

We'd love to see pictures of the engine compartment of your oil burner!

Peter

[treedoc]

At present this car burns 25% recycled vegtable oil and gets 30-35 mpg. Runs sweet. Will send pictures later.

Hi Dr. Aj and welcome,
Pictures would be interesting but what dose it smell like?
I suspose that depends where the vegetable oil came from, fish & chip shop?, KFC?, McDonalds?

[gimp]

Hi

As I have already received some good advice from some of you I thought it would only be proper to introduce myself.

My name is Frank Gimpel and live in Fredericton NewBrunswick Canada and am 65 years old, married and retiered from the Canadian armed Forces for a number of years now.

My first posting was Hemmer Germany in the early 60's were I saw my first Pagoda. That car always stayed in the back of my mind.

I went back to Hemmer in the late 60's now married were my wife and I saw a number of Pagodas. As I would always comment my wife finally said if you like them so much why not bring one back. (yes yes yes)

So we started looking for a good used one. In the summer of 1973 we found one at the MB dealer in Friedburg. It was a 1968 280sl automatic in like new condition.

The car has travelled back and forth to Germany twice and has given us nothing but pleasure for the passed 37 years. And hopefull many more.

[Iconic]

gimp,
Welcome to the group.
With 37 years of enjoyment and experience, I look forward to you sharing with us and I hope we can continue to help you.
I have found these members to be a wealth of knowledge and generosity.
When you get some time, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see pictures of your car and learn more about it.

[jfkb2]

I am very pleased to have been introduced to the sl113 site.   Let me present myself, I am John Brown of Grosse Pointe, MI.  I own a dark blue 1966 230 SL with a white grey interior. 

The car was bought for my mother by my father in late 65’ or early 66’ (I don't have the exact date with me right now) from Wood Imports/Motors in Detroit.  I remember being driven to elementary school in it and taking my drivers test for my license in it when I turned 16. 

My mother gave me the car in 2000 as she knew that I was the only one of her children who really cared about it and would try to restore it.  Well 10 years and as you all know way too many $$$ later the car is unfinished.  I was being severely taken advantage of and I too was complacent, not checking on the restoration frequently enough and being too nice of a guy all the while not being sure of exactly where the money was going. 

Finally, I met some people from the MBCA, joined and have moved the car to a new shop, Motorwerks and through them I have met Mike Salemi.  Mike has been wonderful taking my calls and answering my questions at any time. He has come to look at my car and offer his wealth of knowledge.  I thank him for that, he has also steered me to full membership in sl113.org. One day I hope to show all of you the finished currently sleeping beauty.

[Peter van Es]

Welcome and we look forward to seeing the result. You've found a great guide in Mike!

Peter

[Ulf]

This is a bit late for me since I've been a member of this fantastic forum for almost 2 years. My name is Ulf Westmark-Højelsen, 36 of age, living in Copenhagen, Denmark, father of 2 kids (that occasionally gets a ride with Dad), employed as a creative in advertising.
My car is a 1965 230 SL in silver with burgundy interior. The car was originally purchased by an American named Sam Krasner in Germany and imported to San Diego. He had is restored (guess mid-90's) and later sold it to Larry Liebermensch also in San Diego. He put it in commission in a dealership due to a change of focus from Mercs to Datsuns (Duh?). In 2002 the car was sold and imported to a fellow Dane from whom I purchased it in 2007. Unfortunately, I can't find the first owner and has lost contact to the second. Apart from regular servicing I haven't had to do much to it besides having the bushes in the gear shifter replaced, new timing chain, brake pads, new soft top and a few other minor issues.
But the car is great - quite a change from the MGA who used to occupy my garage. The Merc is my 6th and hopefully last classic - the previously owned classics has been a 72' Citrôen Mehari (jeep-like thing based on the 2CV), a real jeep in the shape of a 1961 Willys M38A1, a 1967 Triumph Spitfire MkIII, a 1969 Triumph TR6, and two 88" Series III Land Rovers of which I have kept one. Daily driver is a tatty 1996 BMW 518i, that could use some of the TLC (and money!) that goes into the Pagoda and the Land Rover...

[ja17]

Hello Ulf,

Nice to meet you and welcome. Yes I recall seeing your posts for some time. Sounds like you have a nice SL .

Happy Motoring!

[pasquel]

HI DEAR FRIENDS,  MY NAME IS ALEX PASQUEL I LIVE IN LEON GUANAJUATO MEXICO, I HAVE A 250 SL 1967 VIN 000566,  A JANUARY 67 CAR, IT WAS IMPORTED FROM TEXAS IN 1988,  I OWNE THIS HANDSOME SINCE THEN, IT WAS WHITE CREAM  650 H, WITH BLACK MBTEX,  I RESTED 300 TO THE CODE,  TO BECOME A 350 H MID BLUE WITH TAN LEATHER, I DID THIS WORK 15 YR AGO, I USE TO BE THE STANDOX DEALER AND PAINT TEACHER, FOR THE CENTRAL PART OF MEXICO, WITH THE 95 MONETARY DEVALUATION, I CLOSED THE SHOP, AND BECAME A BAKER, YOU PAY FIRST, AND THEN YOU EAT THE DOUGHNUT 

MI CAR  IS ONLY USED FOR SHOWS AND PARADES, I AM CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ANTIQUE CAR CLUB OF THE STATE OF GUANAJUATO, IN THE CLUB WE ALSO HAVE 2 MORE PAGODAS 280 SL. 3 190 SL, ONE, 220 54  CONVERTIBLE, ONE MB 56 TRUCK DOUBLE TIRES ON REAR WITH A 190 GASOLINE ENGINE

PLEASE IF YOU COME TO CENTRAL MEXICO, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR ANY HELP YOU NEED, MY CITY IS KNOWN FOR BEEN THE SHOE CAPITAL OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT. WE ARE 100 MILES NORTH FROM SAN MIGUEL ALLENDE, THERE WE HAVE MORE THAN 10,000 AMERICAN GRANDPAS AND GRANDMAS, LIVING THERE, SOON I WILL POST SOME PHOTOS, OF MY CAR, HAVE A NICE DAY.

ALEX PASQUEL

[Peter van Es]

Welcome Alex,

and thanks for the invitation... We'd love to see some photos f your car and those of the other members of your club.

Peter

(PS: please don't type in all CAPITALS... it's considered shouting on the worldwideweb).

[pasquel]

Dear Peter.
 
Day by day we learn somthing new, soon i will get the pictures of our cars,  that i imagine will post them in the section specific for that?

Best regards
 
Alex

[ja17]

Hello Alex,

Nice to meet you and welcome. Some day I would like to run "La Carrera Panamerican Road Rally down there in a vintage Mercedes. 

I would cetainly let you know if plans become firm.

I spent some time in central Mexico in the early 80's. I was on a quest to find the parts left over from the Mercedes Assembly Plant in Mexico City. I was only twenty five years old at the time and a few hundred American dollars went a long way in those days. I had read that in the late 50's and early 60's Mercedes automobiles had been assembled there, including at least one 300SL, some 190SLs and a variety of sedans, coupes and cabs.

Spent a week of asking a lot of questions in my not so good Spanish, and followed leads all over the city. Our cab driver/guide hoped we would never find the treasure since he was doing quite well on fares! We did manage to find the treasure of parts after a week of searching. On the second floor of a building in Mexico City we found factory new 300SL, 190SL, MB coupe and cab parts in quantities everywhere.  We brought back 14 crates of new old stock parts for mostly 190SLs, 300SLs and some coupes and cabs. Quite an experience.

We also visited other areas in Central Mexico. The climate, the people and the scenery were wonderful.

 Hasta luego

Joe Alexander (ja17)
Blacklick, Ohio)

[pasquel]

Hello Joe,

I am glad to meet you this year the race will be special  is the 200 anniversary of Mexican independence and 100 from Mex revolution, it will have a lot of special stuff, i will post  tomorrow the link to all the theme and needs,

There are pagodas running also fintails,  all brands of cars up to 65,  most of them modified but also there is a category for not modified, they come and enjoy the ride.

In home we had one brand new 64  220 fintail, done on that factory " representations delta".

They assembled many brands including jaguars,  most was a final stuff, like bumpers, headlights, interior,   chrome,  fenders, bonnets and trunks. 

The cars came with all the mechanical part pre assembled, it was easy for the shipment, to stack those things apart, all the scratches an buffing was done here,   under German rules.


Good deal you made, back then, best regards Alex

[ja17]

Hello Alex,

Yes I would like to view your infomation on the event. I believe we have a link started for vintage rallies on this site.

Actually I have been signed up with pre-entry paid, for the last two years, but the current economy down turn has kept me grounded

Thanks,

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[pasquel]

Dear Joe, here is the link, enjoy it, any additional information, i will gladly give it you, in my club we have a 4 time pilot participant, he can help me solve any interrogations you can have.

best regards
Alex

http://www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx/registro2.asp