Is this car a 280SL? Is it a prototype?

[n/a]

I wonder if somebody could help me?

I have just purchased chassis number 11304322001787, which has engine number 13098022024758. The car was originally delivered to Hong Kong, but is now in the UK.

It was sold as a 280 SL, but the chassis number suggests that it is a 250SL. I have a letter from Mercedes confirming that it is a 280SL, but was manufactured in April 1967.

What is it?

Nigel Bramwell

[A Dalton]

Looks like it may be a 250sl with a 280se engine....?
Got the DATA card< by any chance ?

[rwmastel]

I would agree with A. Dalton on analysis.  The 113.043 is ALWAYS a 250SL.  I believe the correct engine for a 280SL is 130.983, is that right?  A 250SL should have 129.982, right?  I would assume a 130.930 is a sedan engine.

To confirm what the car actually is, locate the VIN numbers.  The VIN number is:

1. On the VIN Plate, which is probably located on the firewall on 250SL.
2. On the Options Plate(?) that is rivited to the horizontal surface inside the left front fender under the hood.  On a USA car, it's just in front of the brake booster.  This is not the whole VIN, just the first 8 digits.
3. Stamped into the right front sub-frame rail.  This would be located below the point where the large air hose connects to the intake manifold.  Hard to find the first time.

Make sure these three numbers all match and that they match any paperwork you have showing the VIN number.  It would be nice to have a Data Card.

To make sure what engine you have, locate the tag on the block (not the head) below the 5th and 6th spark plugs.  This takes a small bright flash light.  Just a fraction of an inch below this tag, the engine number should be stamped directly into the block.  Make sure these numbers match.

Let us know what you find!  

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[n/a]

Thank you for your input. However, have a look at the ebay listing (if you have the time!), and you will see in the documentation (which forms part of the listing) a letter from Mercedes Benz confirming the car to be a 280SL!


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2483553842&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

How can this make sense?

[A Dalton]

With all that documentation, I wonder why no DATA card..
 Get hold of the Classic Center and see what the engine was that came in that chassis ..
 Sure looks like early 250 , although I see some 280 parts...

[n/a]

Thanks again for all your help.

Do you have the contact details for the Classic Center?

Nigel

[Mike Hughes]

Looks like a 250SL to me from the pictures (early two-piece hub cap / trim ring wheel treatments, 230/250 chrome-trimmed steering wheel center pad and horn ring that is snake-bent behind the center pad and all!).  The letter from Mercedes merely confrims that the above referenced vehicle was manufactured in April 1967.  I expect even someone at M-B could have committed a typo by refering to the vehicle in the reference header as a 280SL.  In any case, the VIN is clearly a 250SL prefix "113043."  This will be an interesting mystery to sort out.  Do a search for "Data Card" to find out how to contact M-B.

In any case, the car looks beautiful.  Congratulations!

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Cees Klumper]

130.980.22 indicates a sedan engine (right hand drive if I'm not mistaken). LHD cars will have 130.980.10 (manual) or .12 (automatic) prefixes.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[A Dalton]

http://index.php?topic=434

[Ben]

Yeah some of the guys in the Mercedes Club spotted this car on eBay and we discussed it at length. From the interior shots it shows all the hallmarks of an early car, the chrome door pulls and different door panels, the horn ring and two piece hub caps. This all verifies that it IS a 250SL as per the chassis number.

I also spotted the letter from MB but it is WRONG !

The boot badge says 280SL as someone obvioulsy but this on to fool people or in error !  It is not uncommon to find replacement engines in these cars and it wouldn't affect its value !  Besides a 250SL is a rarer beast than the others !

Looks like a really nice car ..........hope you enjoy it !!

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[Albert-230SL]

I also think it's clearly a 250 SL. If you visit the Database section of our homepage ( http://www.sl113.org/data/prod_month.asp ), you will find that a 250 SL (113043) number 1787 was made in April 1967, because last 250 SL made that month was 1914. First seven 280 SL were made in November 1967... so it's clear that this car cannot be a 280 SL. In any case, it's a 250 SL which received a 280 engine in some moment of its life.

This 250 SL 2.8 looks strange with the center of the hubcaps -the MB star- without paint... It's amazing how a little detail like this affects the superb and balanced design of the Pagoda...

Regards

Albert de la Torre Chavalera
Barcelona (Catalunya/Spain)
Feb.'64 230 SL Euro 113042-10-002432

[A Dalton]

< It is not uncommon to find replacement engines in these cars and it wouldn't affect its value ! Besides a 250SL is a rarer beast than the others !
>

 I think I will have to disagree with that.....

[n/a]

Here is another older W113 pretending to be a 280SL on EBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2484054470&category=6338
In this case, visual clues and the VIN suggest a 1966 230SL.


Mike McMahon, Baltimore MD
1970 280SL 4-speed manual
olive green ext, bamboo int

[Ben]

quote:< It is not uncommon to find replacement engines in these cars and it wouldn't affect its value ! Besides a 250SL is a rarer beast than the others !
>

I think I will have to disagree with that.....

Well you can dissagree all you want ........the facts speak for themselves !  :?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[n/a]

Probably the only thing other than the engine number stating it is a 280SL will be the boot badge and the reason for that is usually because the "250SL" boot badge has been lost and replaced with a 280SL badge as the 250SL badges are hard to get.

... although, I have one if you're interested - brand new!

[64sl_robs]

the EBAY seller (dishonest or uninformed) should have taken the $12,800 final bid -good price for an average late 230
ya gotta love ebay

quote:Originally posted by msquared

Here is another older W113 pretending to be a 280SL on EBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2484054470&category=6338
In this case, visual clues and the VIN suggest a 1966 230SL.


Mike McMahon, Baltimore MD
1970 280SL 4-speed manual
olive green ext, bamboo int

[Klaus]

Nigel,
in case you did'nt find out in the meantime:
113043 22 001787 originally had engine 129982 22 000834. The order code designated Great Britain, not Hongkong. 050 white, 040 black hardtop, 116 caviar MB Tex, 720 black softtop. Delivered May 2 1967.

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[Ricardo]

Klaus
This is interesting....my '67 250SL is;
 113043 10 001854
and my data card says delivered 3 May 1967
It's also the 67th car after Nigel's...
Ricardo

Download Attachment: datacardphoto2.jpg
63.5 KB

[hands_aus]

Hey Klaus,

What reference did you use to find out the correct engine number for the VIN?

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto