280 Production question

[batman]

Garry has informed me that I have 230/250 tail lights on my car. Please see attached pictures.

However, mine is a 280, being the 784th produced meaning that it was manufactured around week 2 or 3 of Feb 1968.

Could it possible that in mid-Feb 1968 the factory was still attaching 250 tail light assemblies onto the 784th 280 produced ?

cheers

[Peter h]

here the right one for a early 280 through 68, Red-red. Yellow-red, are later, think 69
Peter

[mbzse]

.../... I have 230/250 tail lights on my car

This is fully correct. Used until early 1969. Amber indicator section on the lens was country specific in some cases. See information in this Forum post as well as the Forum Wiki:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=19680.0

/Hans in Sweden
.

[Garry]

That is good news for Mark that they are original.

 They are the first I have seen for a 280SL that do not have the flat lens.

[michaelgread]

Aaaahhh hum Garry, my car has early tail lights too.
Maybe I should visit more often 
280SL Chassis number #3113 _ built June'68.

[mmizesko]

Mark,

Here is a picture of my 1970 280SL next to a 67 250SL.  You can see the difference between the late 280SL style, and the early 280SL style you have.  Hope this helps.

Mike Mizesko
Columbus, OH

[batman]

Thanks everyone.

Mike - why is your "Automatic" badge on the left side of your trunk - did you have it moved?

[Flyair]

"Automatic" badge was always on the left side on European cars with auto gearbox. was it on the right side for the RHD?

[mmizesko]

This is how the car was when I bought it from the second owner.  I know the car was last painted in 1971, and I don't know if it was moved then, or original from the dealer.  When I did our full body refurb last year, I decided to keep it that way because I like the symmetry vs the "stacked' emblems on the drivers side.  I've kept everything else stock on the car.  I have seen other 280SL's with the "automatic" on the right too, BTW.

Mike

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Here is a back view of mine, the back lights look just like Mike's above, Not like the photos from Peter or Mark.

It be interesting to see what the back lights from Michael Salemi look like since his car and mine are only three numbers apart on the VIN number.

BTW my car was restored in 1992 at RM when it came to Canada from Florida. I hope my back lights are the originals.

[Larry & Norma]

I had 230 lights on my 280, they were changed by a previous owner.
By replacing them with the correct rear lights it became obvious by the
run of the wiring loom that the later lights were the correct ones.

So the loom should be the give away as to the correct lights!

[Garry]

Rolf-Dieter

My Aug 1969 280SL had the flat tail lights

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks Garry, mine do look like yours I attach 2 close ups.

[batman]

Mike - why is your "Automatic" badge on the left side of your trunk - did you have it moved?

I meant to say why is your "Automatic" badge NOT on the left side !

I agree though that having it on the right side gives a nice balance

[bogeyman]

Well, I guess we are narrowing it down a bit...

My Feb '69 #8014 has the old style rounded taillights.

[sandcrab59]

When my son & I were visiting Southern Germany in 2004 on business ( in a small town), I was walking around the local streets and one house had its garage door open.
And inside was a beautiful white 280 SL. It had the word Automatic on the left side of the trunk lid.
Tom M

[Flyair]

for the rear light, mine is like for R-D. And my Pagoda is the 87th from the last

[mbzse]

Well, I guess we are narrowing it down a bit...

The switch over date from earlier to later type taillight lens is clearly defined, see our Wiki on this Forum as well as for instance this posting:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=19680.0   Reply No 13
 Any variation on this is because some PO or workshop switched the taillight units on your or any other Pagoda.
/Hans in Sweden

[batman]

Agree but I wonder if the move to the flat tail lights in 1969, after more than 15 months or so of full production of the 280, was due to a desire to change design to a more "modern" look at that point or because the supply of original design ran out ?

I would have thought that by mid 1969, MB was already in the early processes of  "retiring" the Pagoda and moving to a totally new model. If so, why make a change to the shape of the tail light design unless the manufacturer had themselves redesigned and pushed it onto MB.

[114015]

Guys .....!

Oh well ....!

Garry has informed me that I have 230/250 tail lights on my car. Please see attached pictures.
However, mine is a 280, being the 784th produced meaning that it was manufactured around week 2 or 3 of Feb 1968.

You cannot understand the whole taillight story until you read this:

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Electrical/TailLights

All information is there. Nothing left to be said.

It sometimes helps to look into our Wiki.

Best,

Achim
(redtaillightcollector)