71 Pagoda

[Rok]

hello... i have just become the very excited owner of a 1971 w/automatic transmission. mercedes has always been our family car of choice but i am an avid concourse mg and austin healey restorer. this is my first older mercedes. it runs well after some light tapping on the fuel pumps and goes down the road like a dream. has not been driven since 2004 and shows 81k on the odometer. it was purchased from a friend owning it for some time, it is very original. is there a way to trace its provenance with the vin ?  she indicated to me that it has a "european" automatic transmission??? any info on that claim would be greatly appreciated as i admittedly know absolutely nothing about the car other then I love it and cant wait to work on it..

last four of the vin are (8864) how many were made in 1971 and where does this beauty fall in the lineup does any one know?

will post more soon.. sorry for being so long in this post... very excited as you can tell

rok

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Welcome to the forum Rok, I don't know where you can find maintenance history for your car except from your friend.

You can request a Data Card from the Mercedes Classic Centre (see below)

The card will tell you quite a bit about the car. You need to provide Tom with the Vin number, your drivers licence and proof of ownership (you can scan the foregoing or take a close up picture).

Contact Information for Tom at the Classic Centre. Once you become a member here you will have access to the Technical Forum (it is worth it's low membership in gold)

Tom Hanson
Supervisor, Parts Operations
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA
MBUSA, LLC
9 Whatney
Irvine, CA 92618
949 598-4842 direct
949 598-4870 fax
Thomas.hanson@mbusa.com

[Flyair]

Welcome

Have a second look at the VIN number as there is something wrong with it. The highest VIN number w113 reached in 1971 was ...3885 (last 4 digits), so your number is out of line. FYI 774 w113 cars were made in 1971, 474 in January and 300 in February.
How about posting some pictures of your car?

[Garry]

ROK,

8864 as the last four digits of the vin on a 280 would suggest it was a Feb/Mar 1969 car not 1971.

Garry

[Rok]

hello everyone..

have been bonding with my 280.. interior and carpets are out , large rust holes in both floors front outside edges where they attach to the side rails.. took the interior out and the rest of the car from the center line back seems rock solid. firewall is solid to the bottom where it meets the rusted out floor pan.. the tube channel along the outside of the foot well where the floor pan attaches both have some holes also.. it appeared there was what looked like tar poured on the floor pans then there was foil insulation then the carpet. it was a task to remove it all but i have exposing the bare (and rusted) floor pan.  has this been redone or was the black rigid tar like substance factory? i would think not!

the trunk has one very small hole behind the drivers side rear wheel arch about the size of a silver dollar but otherwise is sturdy. the rear lower quarters show signs of distress.

the car is quite nice otherwise and runs strong..  but admittedly this is my first vintage benz and i am uneducated as to what to really look for and what would constitute a car worthy of some reconditioning to be be simply a nice summer car, or one over my pay level?

what would be the best course of repair for these floor and side box tube issues.

also, be i a furniture maker,  i would love to recondition the dashboard wood along the windshield and the grille at center, however i cannot figure how to remove them? albeit a bit early given my feet would drag the road if i were to drive it now.. 

thank you in advance for your help and input.

rok

[zoegrlh]

your wood trim at windshield has small stud bolts that protrude thru the dash.  You can get to the thumb nuts by (passenger side), remove the glovebox, you can get to alll three of them.  Next remove the radio speaker grill (2 screws from top), next the driver's side, you will need to remove the speedo and go thru the speedo hole to reach two of the thumb nuts.  The last nut can be reached from under the dash next to the hood release handle.  Good luck.
Bob