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Howard Otten was the original owner living in Rancho Santa Fe, CA who was a client of the King family who ran the local Culligan soft water business in Solana Beach. Mr. Autman used to come personally to the office to pay his bill and one time in 1968 he drove this car to the Culligan store at which time Mr. King saw it and was quite impressed. At some point he mentioned to Mr. Otten that if he ever wanted to sell the car, he would be interested in purchasing it. Around 1986 that is exactly what happened. Family lore indicates Mr. King may have purchased the car as a gift for Mrs. King, possibly on a birthday or at Christmas time.

The Kings had several other cars in their collection, so the use of this car remained very light, leading to the currently accumulated 76,000 miles. Being avid car collectors with the needed resources, the Kings always maintained it in top condition, and this is obvious to anyone who examines the car in person or drives it. She drives absolutely textbook, consistent with what Mercedes-Benz cars are known for.

This car is configured to be driven as a roadster, or with the canvas top erected. The mild weather in Southern California and this car’s intended use only on fair-weather days, dispensed with the need for a hard top. Today, hard tops typically sit in garages gathering dust. However, if the new caretaker desires a hardtop, they are readily available.

Besides being a single model year car, this Pagoda is especially rare in that it is nearly all-original. We are using the word, “original,” in the strictest sense, not referring to ‘stock’ condition, but referring to the fact this car has essentially all of its original finishes and soft parts. Finding a 55-year-old car with essentially all-original paint is a quest that usually goes unfulfilled. That said, even the vast majority of cars that are described as being all-original, when inspected by experts, fall short. This car is indeed a very, very special example.

This car was originally appraised and priced by our panel of experts at $150,000, however as the market generally is dominated and driven by folks with a passing fancy for a ‘classic car’ who look for the shiniest car at the lowest price in the current fad color combo, as opposed to true enthusiasts who seek a high level of authenticity, we have recently lowered the price to just under $130,000 making such an authentic car a bargain on the market. The family hopes that someone reading this appreciates a car of this caliber and it finds an appropriate home. Our panel feels this car is an absolute bargain, what do you think?

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Top Up

Interior

Engine

Recent service record study:

• December 18, 2015, fan was wobbling – replaced the water pump, antifreeze, and drive belts. The next listing on February 2016 showed 73,870 miles.
• April 9 to May 5, 2015, had a misfire – replaced wires, plugs, fuel pump, check valve and seal. Handwritten notes did not list miles, but the previous listing showed 72,992 miles and the next listing had 73,216 miles.

• Between April 4, 2011, and September 21, 2011, received new door, trunk, windshield, and side-glass seals, all shocks, radiator core, water pump, electronic ignition, new clock movement, clean and re-coat all engine parts, hence, the fresh cadmium plated lines one finds in the engine bay. Done at 69,700 miles.
• November 16, 1999, new turn signal switch at 63,503 miles
• September 9, 1994, at 57,854 miles, new brake booster, brake master cylinder, and front pads
• February 2, 1993, at 56,591 miles, new heater and vent control levers, clean and reseal heater valve, oil service.
• September 17, 1990, at 54,566 miles, tune-up and compression test. Readings: 155, 150, 150, 150, 150, 150.
• September 12, 1989, at 52,255 miles, lubricate all soft top frame joints and adjust folding top compartment cover.
• Please scroll all the way down to see images of the service record.

Details

Trunk