Trying to gather some information on my car...

[m34jlp]

Hey Guys,

I am trying to get some information on a car I recently inherited. Chassis number reads 11304412010371 and I was told it was a 1970 California Coupe.

Any and all help would be appreciated!

[MikeSimon]

This post should be under a different heading, not in the W11x section.
The VIN number will not tell you if the car is a California Coupé. You can tell yourself. Does the car have a soft-top or a bench seat in the back? If it has a soft-top it still could have been a CC originally and was later changed. Quite an elaborate job, but possible.
All the VIN number tells you it is a 280SL: 113-044, Left Hand Drive and Auto Transmission 12 and produced in May of 1969 010371. Check all your paperwork and see if you also "inherited" the data card, which will list all the options. If not, the data plate in the engine bay gives some info, not all of it.

[rwmastel]

... and produced in May of 1969 010371 ...

m34jlp,

This is because we have a table of serial numbers per month of production.  Referencing that table, Mike was able to give you May 1969 production "date".

113044-12-010371

The first part is the model of the car.
113042 = 230SL
113043 = 250SL
113044 = 280SL

The second part is the left/right hand drive and manual/auto transmission
10 = LHD, manual
12 = LHD, auto
20 = RHD, manual
22 = RHD, auto

The third part is the 6-digit serialized production number, beginning with 000001.
010371 = 10,371st 280SL produced.

Our club, and this discussion forum, has been on-line 20 years, so there is an immense amount of information available.  Ask away!  We're a very responsive group, so check back often on your discussion threads.  Use the search feature and look for California Coupe and see what you can find.

If you have the data card that Mike referenced, it will tell you a lot about how the car left the factory.

Do you plan to keep or sell the car?
- If you plan to keep it, we can help you with about anything you need to do with the car.  Help you through DIY maintenance/repairs.  Help find a good mechanic.  Help find parts suppliers.  Whatever.
- If you plan to sell it, we can help there too.  Help you be smart in how you prep it for sale.  Give advice on best way or place to sell it.  Help find an appraiser if you have no idea what to ask for it.