Merc 280SL 1969 Pagoda,Restoration Feed....
Discussion
As a follow on to my previous feed, and being reunited with a car I have been trying to locate for the last ten years. I am starting my resto feed for my 1969 Merc 280SL Pagoda.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
This feed will be long winded and resto will take a while but feel free to join me on my journey and to offer me any help and guidance along the way.
Cheers...
Having issues uploading pics at the minute.
So added Dropbox link below.
https://www.dropbox.com/l/wSPVzjrnlYOlRoxMnFw4n9
So added Dropbox link below.
https://www.dropbox.com/l/wSPVzjrnlYOlRoxMnFw4n9
Best of luck. I know almost exactly what you're going through. This is what I started with:
Like yours it's a '69 280SL pagoda
A few thousand miles on a Roger Edwards engine rebuild.
All the interior and chrome bits were there.
And then the digging about started to see how far we'd have to go:
When I got the call to "come see for yourself", it was a bit of a shock. Cost was agreed beforehand, but that kinda changed as we got further into it.
It's a good few months now on and off it, but it's at this stage:
New wings on.
Back end in first coat primer and just starting on the bonnet.
I'm not sure whether to congratulate you for restoring one of these or give you my sympathies as I know it's bloody hard work. Good luck with it anyway.
Mark.
Like yours it's a '69 280SL pagoda
A few thousand miles on a Roger Edwards engine rebuild.
All the interior and chrome bits were there.
And then the digging about started to see how far we'd have to go:
When I got the call to "come see for yourself", it was a bit of a shock. Cost was agreed beforehand, but that kinda changed as we got further into it.
It's a good few months now on and off it, but it's at this stage:
New wings on.
Back end in first coat primer and just starting on the bonnet.
I'm not sure whether to congratulate you for restoring one of these or give you my sympathies as I know it's bloody hard work. Good luck with it anyway.
Mark.
Apologies to OP, not intending to hijack your thread, but thought it might be helpful to post in here as I progress with my resto on the same make/model/year of car for a fuller picture for others if they're considering the same thing, I hope it may benefit all of us.
AA121, costs? mmm, guidance for my bodywork is £800 per wing (with MB Club discount), a good bodywork guy who can patch (within reason) most other panels and structural members, prep and paint for what started at £5K, but may well end up around £10-12K. The engines away being fettled as are all ancillaries, I'd be guessing at costs for this as I want it 'just so'. The interior wasn't too bad on mine, but for new carpets and odd bits of trim I've got a budget around £1500 which seems comfortable probably until we start it, so watch this space. Then there's the guy I trust to bolt it all together who's reconditioning/refurbing all the drivetrain, suspension, trailing etc...My God doesn't bear thinking about! But I will post it up as I get through it.
I think the most annoying thing is that Merc have sat up and taken notice of the upward trend in values on these cars and have increased parts prices to reflect this, so, if you're thinking about it, jump now, parts aren't getting any cheaper.
LBS, Hi Tim, I'll update as progress allows, I'm not pushing anyone to hit a date, you've gotta be flexible, my time/abilities are limited so the trade off is that the pro's are dropping on and off the resto as it suits their workload. It's also helping with the cost as the bodyshop's using the Pagoda as a training tool for kids who are only used to bolt on/bolt off body panels. As if running a DB7 wasn't enough hassle?
AA121, costs? mmm, guidance for my bodywork is £800 per wing (with MB Club discount), a good bodywork guy who can patch (within reason) most other panels and structural members, prep and paint for what started at £5K, but may well end up around £10-12K. The engines away being fettled as are all ancillaries, I'd be guessing at costs for this as I want it 'just so'. The interior wasn't too bad on mine, but for new carpets and odd bits of trim I've got a budget around £1500 which seems comfortable probably until we start it, so watch this space. Then there's the guy I trust to bolt it all together who's reconditioning/refurbing all the drivetrain, suspension, trailing etc...My God doesn't bear thinking about! But I will post it up as I get through it.
I think the most annoying thing is that Merc have sat up and taken notice of the upward trend in values on these cars and have increased parts prices to reflect this, so, if you're thinking about it, jump now, parts aren't getting any cheaper.
LBS, Hi Tim, I'll update as progress allows, I'm not pushing anyone to hit a date, you've gotta be flexible, my time/abilities are limited so the trade off is that the pro's are dropping on and off the resto as it suits their workload. It's also helping with the cost as the bodyshop's using the Pagoda as a training tool for kids who are only used to bolt on/bolt off body panels. As if running a DB7 wasn't enough hassle?
DB7 pilot said:
Apologies to OP, not intending to hijack your thread, but thought it might be helpful to post in here as I progress with my resto on the same make/model/year of car for a fuller picture for others if they're considering the same thing, I hope it may benefit all of us.
AA121, costs? mmm, guidance for my bodywork is £800 per wing (with MB Club discount), a good bodywork guy who can patch (within reason) most other panels and structural members, prep and paint for what started at £5K, but may well end up around £10-12K. The engines away being fettled as are all ancillaries, I'd be guessing at costs for this as I want it 'just so'. The interior wasn't too bad on mine, but for new carpets and odd bits of trim I've got a budget around £1500 which seems comfortable probably until we start it, so watch this space. Then there's the guy I trust to bolt it all together who's reconditioning/refurbing all the drivetrain, suspension, trailing etc...My God doesn't bear thinking about! But I will post it up as I get through it.
I think the most annoying thing is that Merc have sat up and taken notice of the upward trend in values on these cars and have increased parts prices to reflect this, so, if you're thinking about it, jump now, parts aren't getting any cheaper.
LBS, Hi Tim, I'll update as progress allows, I'm not pushing anyone to hit a date, you've gotta be flexible, my time/abilities are limited so the trade off is that the pro's are dropping on and off the resto as it suits their workload. It's also helping with the cost as the bodyshop's using the Pagoda as a training tool for kids who are only used to bolt on/bolt off body panels. As if running a DB7 wasn't enough hassle?
Hi Mark,AA121, costs? mmm, guidance for my bodywork is £800 per wing (with MB Club discount), a good bodywork guy who can patch (within reason) most other panels and structural members, prep and paint for what started at £5K, but may well end up around £10-12K. The engines away being fettled as are all ancillaries, I'd be guessing at costs for this as I want it 'just so'. The interior wasn't too bad on mine, but for new carpets and odd bits of trim I've got a budget around £1500 which seems comfortable probably until we start it, so watch this space. Then there's the guy I trust to bolt it all together who's reconditioning/refurbing all the drivetrain, suspension, trailing etc...My God doesn't bear thinking about! But I will post it up as I get through it.
I think the most annoying thing is that Merc have sat up and taken notice of the upward trend in values on these cars and have increased parts prices to reflect this, so, if you're thinking about it, jump now, parts aren't getting any cheaper.
LBS, Hi Tim, I'll update as progress allows, I'm not pushing anyone to hit a date, you've gotta be flexible, my time/abilities are limited so the trade off is that the pro's are dropping on and off the resto as it suits their workload. It's also helping with the cost as the bodyshop's using the Pagoda as a training tool for kids who are only used to bolt on/bolt off body panels. As if running a DB7 wasn't enough hassle?
Happy for you to join my thread... It's gives me a lot of food for thought and support along the long road I am only at the beginning of.
Was going to contact Roger Edwards to give me some advice on the engine as under further inspection I realised this is not the original 280sl engine under the bonnet but a replacement 280se one. So would ideally like to find an original SL one to put back it and re-coup some of the costs by selling this one.
Can I ask you who you are using for your metal work.? Im Picking up my new wings, sills next Monday so got all the parts to start getting quotes for all the body work.
Hi Tommocft, happy to help where possible. My bodyshop is R.E.O. Motors in Oadby, Leicester, he's done a few of my cars over the years and always as something interesting going through his shop. He's got a good local reputation but he's busy and that's the price you pay for having work done this extensively. He has to drop on and off as his workload dictates and I don't think I've ever tied him down to a budget before he's had the car in, but he explains well and calls you in to show you what's turned up, or e-mails it to you with photos. The most overriding thing though is I trust him to make those decisions that move the job on, be it buying factory wings or patching inner sills his own way with one eye on costs.....he does take his own sweet time though. 
An update. The bodywork has moved on:
Third or fourth coat primed.
Note the drivers side wing at the headlight. There's a querk that's sometimes missed when pagodas are restored it's a little peak that's evident in the chrome bezel of the light surround that then fades into the paintwork. Painter is reshaping it at this stage.
The cross bracing that was welded into the door reveals has been removed now that the sills are strong. The bag which is where the windscreen should be contains the wiring loom from the bulkhead. Ready for the first topcoat.
Finally! Starting to look like the car I know.
Third or fourth coat primed.
Note the drivers side wing at the headlight. There's a querk that's sometimes missed when pagodas are restored it's a little peak that's evident in the chrome bezel of the light surround that then fades into the paintwork. Painter is reshaping it at this stage.
The cross bracing that was welded into the door reveals has been removed now that the sills are strong. The bag which is where the windscreen should be contains the wiring loom from the bulkhead. Ready for the first topcoat.
Finally! Starting to look like the car I know.
Jesus you don't hang about do you. Looking really good, have you had all the rust holes sorted in that time too? You must have I suppose. Well done. Just as a side note after reading another post on here what sort of money are we looking at for that sort of work? Would you say £12K is reasonable?
Keep up the good work and posting.
Keep up the good work and posting.
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