Pininfarin

[aomastu]

http://www.ritzsite.net/230SLPF/1964_Mercedes_230SL_Pininfarina_intro.JPG


This from a fun car site

http://www.ritzsite.net/

'69 280sl
P.O. Box 150128
Austin, TX  78715

[Jonny B]

Very nice photo, and in the original silver too!

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[TR]

Does this car have an extended snout?  The opening of the grill seems to project just a little further forward than is typical.  Perhaps not; maybe it's just me.  But whatever it is I like the looks of the front end of this car.

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

[rwmastel]

Tom,

Yes, it's a complete custom body.

Here is some history on it and a pic with the car in the original red (scroll down....):
http://www.speedace.info/pininfarina.htm

Last car listed under 1964:
http://www.tom-tjaarda.net/cars.htm

More pictures from a Google Image Search:
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&q=pininfarina+230sl

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[TR]

Thank you, Rodd, for those web links.  I particularly enjoyed these words from the 1st link: "the original design by Paul Bracq is regarded as a masterpiece".  Also, that overhead photo of the Pininfarina car is impressive.

Still, I greatly prefer the original design. That extended snout of the Pininfarina version, however, does look pretty good to my eye.

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

[66andBlue]

A few more pictures to enjoy (I hope) and ponder.

Tom Tjaarda's signature (designer of the car):


The distinctive "nose":




Pinin Farina liked Ferrari details:



Interior details:





Gas filler inside the trunk [boot]:



Engine bay:











Continuous front and rear bumpers


Sharp contours

[Cees Klumper]

Lots of non-original details on this car ... probably too much work to put it right again.
 
Seriously, years back I spotted an original promotional B&W photo from the Pininfarina studio of this car on Ebay - I bought it for a few dollars and sent it onto Weston Hook, so it could be with the object itself.

[66andBlue]

Hi Cees,
I was told that the documents are still with the car and were used in the recent restoration process.  For example, notice the recreated rear license plate holder. After Axel Springer bought the car in 1965 it had 3 more owners, was once black and then red, before Weston Hook bought it and had it changed to silver.
I am curious though, what you consider non-original. Can you name a few offensive aspects?

[Cees Klumper]

quote:Originally posted by 66andBlue

Hi Cees,
...
I am curious though, what you consider non-original. Can you name a few offensive aspects?

I was only joking, most of this car's body is non-original and of course that was the whole point!

[114015]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by 66andBlue

Hi Cees,
...
I am curious though, what you consider non-original. Can you name a few offensive aspects?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cees is of course right, lots of non-original details on the car. [:0] Clearly not suitable for a show winner.
1) courtesy light switches in door pillars are plastic and not chrome as they should
2) steering wheel hornpad is clearly late style (i.e. replaced) -> not correct
3) incorrect engine ! Looks absolutely like a 230 engine (M127 II). But Axel Caesar Springer got a 250 SE engine fitted to the car, everybody knows that. So, what is this here? A number-less backjards engine which Gerry Hjeltness swapped in?
4) late style brake booster.[:0]


Naa, of course I am kidding too.   The car looks just stunning.

Wished my 114 would look the same :x

Achim

[114015]

Hello Alfred,

Stunning pics! Where did you get them?   Looks as if you had the chance to see the Pininfarina-SL in real.
BTW, as Weston Hook passed ... what is going to happen to the car now?  :evil:

Best,

Achim

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by 114015
 ... what is going to happen to the car now?

Hi Achim,
the car is still in the family and well maintained.

quote:
1) courtesy light switches in door pillars are plastic and not chrome as they should
2) steering wheel hornpad is clearly late style (i.e. replaced) -> not correct
3) incorrect engine ! Looks absolutely like a 230 engine (M127 II). But Axel Caesar Springer got a 250 SE engine fitted to the car, everybody knows that. So, what is this here? A number-less backjards engine which Gerry Hjeltness swapped in?

(1)Actually the switch plates are chromed, the reflection appears black. (2) Not the whole pad, only the center star was replaced but without the outer chrome ring. Nevertheless ....
(3)The car did have a M127 engine when it was first shown in Turin and Paris, or not?
I'll ask him whether he swapped it or one of the previous two "restorers".