Tow Ring - when did they get added?

[dtuttle123]

When did the tow ring get installed?  I have an early 250SL without the ring, but the attached photo is from another early 250SL (about 1-2 months later than mine) with the tow ring.  Were they possibly added later?  Or maybe mine was removed?

[Joe]

Ancillary question: what color should the ring be?
Joe

[thelews]

250 SL #1543

Hook is body color

[sjiatrou]

My '64 230sl (#1515) has it and it's body color.

[graphic66]

Is it a tow ring or was it used to secure the cars for transport to dealers?

[al_lieffring]

Is it a tow ring or was it used to secure the cars for transport to dealers?

The loop on the left front frame horn will easily tear away if you try to use it to winch the car out of a ditch (personal experience) so I think you are correct, the loop was for securing the cars to the deck when transported overseas.

Wrap a tow rope/chain around one of the forward sub frame straps, they are much stronger than the loop on the frame rail.

Al


 

[john.mancini]

I used to date a girl who had a toe ring. She had it added in 1969.
John

[abe280SL]

I use to date one too...but her ring(s) was not on her toe
abe

[dtuttle123]

Leave it to you guys to brings a good technical discussion right into the gutter   and you haven't been even drinking.

I went out to the barn last night with a flashlight, and looked again, and there is evidence of a ring on my car, but lost it somewhere in it's life. 

I do buy the tie-down for transport theory, but wouldn't there also have to be one 'aft'?  If it was just for tie down, then they could have put it futher back, and not have it extend out for cosmetic reasons.

[john.mancini]

Toe rings, tied down...........we might be talking about the same girl!
Next topic.

[dtuttle123]

Indeed!

[Mike Hughes]

Aye, laddie - but will it come off when you tow her out of a ditch?

(Sorry, couldn't help myself!)

[J. Huber]

Well. My car has the hook as well (871). However, I recall years ago when I had my car painted thinking it looked funny white (figured it might have been accidentally painted bodycolor...) -- so I painted it black. Might go back now that I am enlightened!

I can also say mine has functioned as a tow hook, not out of a ditch -- but up a flatbad tow-truck ... 

[sjiatrou]

Same thing here James, I've had two flatbed towing experiences this year and both times that front tow hook performed flawlessly when they winched her up the ramp.