Difference Between Roadster and Coupe

[jellis25]

I was looking at NADA and there is quite a price difference between the 65 230sl "2 door coupe convertible" and the "2 door roadster."

Can someone please explain the difference to me. I am looking at buying a 65 and want to know which one this would fall under.

Sorry if this has been posted before. I couldn't find anything with a quick search.

Thanks - John

[knockmacool]

John

The two door coupe convertible is a 230SL without a soft-top. Roadster refers to a convertible, and when new I believe  these cars could be supplied with a soft-top only
Look at
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Tops/Start

■Roadster: soft top only
■Coupe: hardtop (with either a soft top or at least a space for one)
■California coupe (from 250SL onwards): hardtop only; no provision for soft top at all (and a tiny rear bench seat)

I will let others comment on values; purchasing a soft top frame can be expensive. Good luck

Drew

[jellis25]

thanks drew.

Any idea why the price difference is so dramatic?

[Richard Madison]

According to the Price Card for 1970 models, Mercedes did not use "Convertible" when referring to the SL.

The card shows an SL Roadster, a Coupe, and a Coupe/Roadster but no SL "Convertible".

The only Convertible on the card is a 280SE.

The price difference at that time between a Roadster and Coupe /Roadster was $422, about 6%.

Richard M, NYC

[badali]

My car came as a coupe.  It has a 5 on the data paint plate near the hood catch on the drivers side.  The line to look at has various configurations.

050G 050G 5

is the line on mine.
First # body color white
second # hard top color white
5 Hard top without roadster top

050G --- -  Is car without hard top with roadster top

050G 050G 6 is both tops

050G 050G 7 I think is california coupe that has back seat no soft top compartment

This is all in the technical data section of the site

[Raymond]

Brad, you are correct.  My California Coupe is 050 7.  I have never seen a reference where Mercedes ever called the cars "California" Coupes.  The factory term was just Coupe.  I believe the Roadster term refered to the car with the capability to have a soft top whether it was ordered without one or not. 
So you had:
Roadster - soft top only
Roadster/Coupe - Hard top and soft top but could be ordered without the actual folding top.
Coupe - Hard top with rear folding bench seat.

I don't know what the numbers of each are.  Obviously, the Roadster/Coupe would have to be something like a 200 to 1 preference.  I also wonder if any Coupe was ever ordered without air conditioning.  Even though the A/C units were installed by dealers in the US, the cars would have been ordered with the double groove pulley and wiring already installed. 

Has anyone ever weighed a soft top and frame?