Star Torque Issue 244 Winter 2016

Club Pagodas
1964 230 SL Roadster, Blue & Navy - Mark Devadson
The The iconic Pagoda has been on my watch list for
decades. Partially to celebrate a significant birthday
that almost coincided with the age of the car. I purchased
the “230SL”, at a Shannon’s auction, a couple of years
ago. I knew at the time of the purchase the car had
been fitted with a 250SL engine, which had replaced the
original one at some stage in its history. The car was a tidy
runner that presented well, having been partially, but not
comprehensively, restored.
Since then, with the help from my friends at Cremorne
Prestige and Koudsy Bodyworks in Artarmon, I have
completed a bare metal respray, a total engine, gearbox,
wheels and a wiring loom restoration. I agonised about
whether to go with white walled “tyres”, but ended up
staying with the more European look, black tyres. The
car still has an original and working Becker radio. The
car now looks and drives as if new and has a new lease of
life, which hopefully, will see it on the roads in Sydney for
another 50 years.
1971 280 SL, Beige & Brown - Robert Harrison
The original owner of this vehicle was Max Bowen,
delivered by Marshalls of Parramatta on 20th July
1971. Sold to Bourke in 1976, then to Aylett in 1996, on to
Downie in 2005 and purchased by me in November 2012,
with 58,185 miles on the clock.
It has now done just less than 61,000 miles. The car is
totally original and has not been restored or involved in
any accidents. I have all the original service books, which
are up to date, and the original tool roll. The previous
owner Downie, who had the car from 2005 to 2012, had
the car resprayed and fitted new soft top. There has been
nothing else done to the car, apart from normal servicing.
I went to Canberra for the Australian gathering of Pagoda
owners, 50th anniversary, in 2013. There were 60 W113’s,
from all over Australia, on display. To my surprise, I was
awarded Best in Show!
1963 230 SL, Cream & Cream - Frances & Tony Cole
We purchased the car in 1991, after Frances had seen
it for sale, in our mechanic’s display window at the
front of his Bowral workshop. It was love at first sight.
With approximately 28,000 miles on the clock, and in
lovely condition, it has been a joy to own. Although still
only showing about 32,500 miles on the clock today, it
has had very few serious maintenance problems and now
resides in the home garage under a dust cover, but comes
out on special occasions and of course for registration.
There is no doubt about it ‘She is Glamour’
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