230SL starting build date

[Benz Dr.]

Does anyone know when the first 230SL was built? I believe they made a few pre production cars in 1963 but when were the actual regular production cars started?

[Norm]

The Mercedes book "Faszination SL 230SL - 280 SL (W113)" on page 27 (english translation) states the 230 SL had a production run of 19,831 units from March 1963 to January 1967.  It was also worth noting that the export share of 230 SL production was 59 percent.  The US export share was only 24 percent.  Considerably less than for the predecessor 190 SL (40 percent).

I expect there are other sources that can confirm this info....

The production stats in the technical manual are as follows:

Numbers are the last vin number for each month listed.
63   January   none       
    February   000002       
    March   000003       
    April   none       
    May   000018       
    June   000037       
    July   000142
Norm 

[neelyrc]

The technical manual also indicates a higher total production of 19832 units.

[Benz Dr.]

I'm asking because I was told that the 230 and 190 were built on lines side by side and I don't believe that happened. If anything, the start up of 230 production was very slow and long after 190 production stopped.

[MikeSimon]

My books show the end of 190SL production in February of 1963. The 230SL was first shown to the public at the March 1963 Geneva Motor Show and started production for sale in June of 1963.
The February and March production numbers as quoted by Norm were most likely pre-production/prototypes/show cars.
No parallel production of 190SL and 230SL