New ride has arrived!
Discussion
Hi- I am very much hoping to keep it but it depends on various circumstances over the next few months (jobs, babies, life...).
It did take a while to find (2 years). I did bring another 280sl, earlier this year, that needed a full restoration and as is typical this one showed up some weeks later. Having run the numbers for the restoration (even at low UAE rates), it made alot more sense to buy this car. So I sold the first 280sl here in Dubai.
This car has been a California car all its life. The AC was fitted by the MB Dealer when the car was new (they were never fitted by the factory). The history folder is amazing and its very original apart from a high quality respray and a full new interior (cost $11k!). The engine was also replaced with a Mercedes exchange unit around 60k miles ago.
If I do need to sell it, I will be truly heartbroken!
It did take a while to find (2 years). I did bring another 280sl, earlier this year, that needed a full restoration and as is typical this one showed up some weeks later. Having run the numbers for the restoration (even at low UAE rates), it made alot more sense to buy this car. So I sold the first 280sl here in Dubai.
This car has been a California car all its life. The AC was fitted by the MB Dealer when the car was new (they were never fitted by the factory). The history folder is amazing and its very original apart from a high quality respray and a full new interior (cost $11k!). The engine was also replaced with a Mercedes exchange unit around 60k miles ago.
If I do need to sell it, I will be truly heartbroken!
Edited by Paracetamol on Tuesday 9th October 10:15
Gentleman Geoff said:
Beautiful. Were you specifically looking for a manual?
I always expected to want an auto but somehow I swayed toward a manual on the basis that 1. classic cars are generally more about the experience than convenience. The Pagoda has a lovely mechanical feeling change and a nice light clutch.
2 Manual Pagodas are relatively rare and are tipped as being slightly stonger from a collectability perspective.
3. Manual gearboxes are much easier to maintain and more reliable than autos of that era. Auots can take some setting up and can be very jerky and fiddly to fix.
Paracetamol said:
Gentleman Geoff said:
Beautiful. Were you specifically looking for a manual?
I always expected to want an auto but somehow I swayed toward a manual on the basis that 1. classic cars are generally more about the experience than convenience. The Pagoda has a lovely mechanical feeling change and a nice light clutch.
2 Manual Pagodas are relatively rare and are tipped as being slightly stonger from a collectability perspective.
3. Manual gearboxes are much easier to maintain and more reliable than autos of that era. Auots can take some setting up and can be very jerky and fiddly to fix.
Thanks. Just some minor detailing to do on her and a service and then go through the hassle of registration..Fortunately I have just found the bill for a overhaul of the fuel injection pump (USD 2k!) and so emissions should be ok.
The car is at Max Garage in Dubai who now seem to be servicing and repairing most 280sl's that I am aware of in the UAE.
Other major issue is insurance- I have found a company to insure her comprehensively but it aint cheap - and infact crazy on the basis that I will do no more than 1k kms in a year..
The car is at Max Garage in Dubai who now seem to be servicing and repairing most 280sl's that I am aware of in the UAE.
Other major issue is insurance- I have found a company to insure her comprehensively but it aint cheap - and infact crazy on the basis that I will do no more than 1k kms in a year..
Paracetamol said:
Thanks. Just some minor detailing to do on her and a service and then go through the hassle of registration..Fortunately I have just found the bill for a overhaul of the fuel injection pump (USD 2k!) and so emissions should be ok.
They didn't test mine when I got the MG (1971) done last.Paracetamol said:
Other major issue is insurance- I have found a company to insure her comprehensively but it aint cheap - and infact crazy on the basis that I will do no more than 1k kms in a year..
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