VIN Number Confusion

[Richard Madison]

About a VIN number.
 
Been in contact with the owner of an early 230SL.

The number on the inside top of the fender is 113 042 10 01026

The number on a plate in the engine compartment is also 113 042 10 01026

The number on another plate is 113 042 10 001028

The car now has automatic transmission.

Confusion:

The car appears to have two VIN numbers 01026 and 001028. What is the correct VIN number of this car?

Why do the two "26" numbers end with 5 digits and not 6?

Does the middle "10" show that the original Manual transmission was changed to an Automatic?

We want to confirm the correct VIN before requesting the Data Card.

Photos from the 230SL are attached for your inspection.

Thanks,

Richard M, NYC

[J. Huber]

I believe your VIN is 113 042 10 001028. To confirm, have a look in the engine bay on the passenger's side (LHD) just under the air cleaner hose, behind the subframe seam. (I have the hardest time explaining that one, maybe someone will have a pic?)

The first two photos show the body number which should coincide with a stamped number on the inside upper corner of the hood (bonnet) as well as the soft-top lid, and hardtop if its there. That one is the 01026 number. They are two different numbers -- often close but not the same. Good luck. I am always excited to see an early car... more pics and story as you go?

oh and the 10 on the VIN indicates a manual trans. If it was converted later, that 10 is technically a 12 but not on the data card or plates...

[114015]

Hey James ...! Hello Richard.   

Early 230ies and nothing left for me to say...?
Yes, James' explanations are absolutely right.
VIN = ... 10-001028
body number is 113042-10-01026 (yes, one zero-digit less)
and production number is 027 I guess ...  (maybe I am wrong here).  Look on the rear side (or right side if your are next to the left fender) of the hole (opening) for the engine hood hook.

From the VIN the car must have clearly been a stick shift and not Automatic.
Certainly it was modified later.
Carpet, seat covers and center rearview mirror (and horn pad) look terribly non-original. 

BTW these amusing and confusing VIN-like 13-digit body numbers were used up to serial 001176 (or something close to that). Afterwards all pagodas had the well known paint code (etc.) plate that your 280 has as well, Richard.


Best,

Achim
(early-230-afficionado)

[66andBlue]

.... To confirm, have a look in the engine bay on the passenger's side (LHD) just under the air cleaner hose, behind the subframe seam. (I have the hardest time explaining that one, maybe someone will have a pic?).  ...

I believe this is the location that James had in mind.

[J. Huber]

I believe this is the location that James had in mind.

Indeed, the very one... I wish we had a picture archive to quickly retrieve photos. I know its possible to search for them, but its not exactly easy.

As for the car in question -- interesting just how close those numbers are (2 apart). Mine is 871 and 881 (10 apart). One nice original part on the car is the ivory-colored e-brake handle.

And Richard... this almost sounds like "a friend of mine has this problem..." You didn't double your fun, did you? 

[Naj ✝︎]

... I wish we had a picture archive to quickly retrieve photos. I know its possible to search for them, but its not exactly easy.

The Tech Manual is the Best Place.

In fact, there is one there.

Naj

[J. Huber]

True enough Naj, that is always a good place to go. I guess what I was thinking of is more of an image retrieval function where I could grab a photo midway through my reply to someone's question. Its easy when its one of my own photos but when it's something I saw elsewhere it becomes kind of complicated. Know what I mean? If I go searching for a photo in the tech manual mid-post, I have to open another window, and think about where it might be, then find it, grab it, rename it...   Or I can just say "do a search in the tech manual" which is fine -- except sometimes I want to finish off my personal reply with a jazzy photo.