Original Owner's 1969 Mercedes 280SL Competes in Hill Climbs
A 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL, bought new by a Cincinnati dentist in 1968 and now owned by his son, is a regular competitor in Ohio hill climb events.
Jim Siegel's 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is a frontrunner in the 'Whitewall Class' at the Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revival near Zanesfield, Ohio. The car was originally purchased new by his father, Dr. Paul Siegel, in September 1968.
Event organizer Kurt Niemeyer says Jim brings a lot of fun to the hill climb. The whitewall tires are an homage to how his father ordered the car. For decades, the convertible was used for family vacations, including 500-mile trips from Cincinnati to Northern Michigan.
From Commuter to Competitor
Dr. Paul Siegel was an endodontist from Cincinnati. He was more of an airplane enthusiast than a car buff, but he appreciated Mercedes convertibles. He ordered this 280SL with a no-extra-cost four-speed manual transmission, a rare choice at the time. The original purchase price was $7,558.
The car was optioned with several features.
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Power steering | $200 |
| Becker Europa AM/FM radio | $174 |
| Tinted glass | $43 |
| Whitewall tires | $46 |
A $71 credit was given for omitting front-seat headrests, which were not yet mandatory. Dr. Siegel did not order air conditioning, believing his short commute made it unnecessary. The car developed rust on its fenders from Cincinnati road salt and had them replaced and the body repainted in its original Horizon Blue in 1980.
The Car's Provenance and Preservation
Jim Siegel bought the car from his father's estate in 2005. He drives it about a thousand miles a year, often to and from competitions. "Any events that I do in this car, I drive it there. I never trailer it," Jim says. He has not broken anything while competing.
The car remains largely original. The powertrain has never been rebuilt. The interior is the original MB-Tex vinyl, with only one worn panel on the driver's seat replaced. Jim states, "I haven't cut holes to put speakers in it or anything like that. The clock still works and is accurate." He has replaced the seatbelts but kept the original, confusing latches.
A Family Legacy on the Hill
The Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revival was restarted in 2019 by enthusiasts Kurt Niemeyer and Tom Cole. Jim ran his eighth event there on August 22. His son John won the 2.5-liter class in a Porsche 944S at the same event. Another son, Mike, flew them over the course in a Piper Cherokee to scout it before the race.
Jim recalls his father teaching him to drive a manual transmission in this car, instructing him to shift so smoothly a passenger couldn't feel it. That was a challenge with the four-speed's short gearing. The car now creates new memories. Jim's son John told him that watching him uncover and start the 280SL in 2005 sparked his own automotive passion. John is now a features engineer for Ford Racing and has helped his father with minor work on the Mercedes.
The car is maintained at Precision Motorcars, a specialist shop his father began using in 1972. The shop is now owned by Tyler Winslow. Aside from the repaint and fender replacement decades ago, the aluminum hood, trunk lid, and door skins are original. The car continues to be used as its first owner likely intended, albeit at a quicker pace on Ohio hills.
