Was there ever a 16 page booklet w/ soft top operating instructions ?

[goldhamme_rulez]

Happy New Year to you all -

over the years I have read quite a few posts/articles on all the little booklets that came w/ a Pagoda ... but I have never read about such a booklet ... is it legit ?

https://www.ebay.de/itm/364498912037



Thanks

Oliver

[Jonny B]

I have seen this booklet before, but never had the chance to physically examine it. It appears to be the same size and type of booklet that MB used for their dealer directories.

There is a bifold booklet for the 280 SL however, and it is in the same color scheme as the maintenance manual and owner's manual.

Two photos attached

[goldhamme_rulez]

Good Morning Jonny B -

yes I have seen those 4 page "MB style" booklets and they seem to have existed as 230 SL, 250 SL and 280 SL booklets (at least in German).

Maybe the US service organisation needed something in the early days and created the 16 pages ?

Or maybe some enthusiast created them later, when everybody had already lost the booklets that came with the car at delivery - similar to the jack instructions etc. ...

What do think ?

Oliver

[Jonny B]

Not sure about the enthusiasts being able to do this back in the day. But the desire to put something together sometimes pushes creativity.

I happen to have a copy of the first 230 SL owner's manual, and the top instructions are in there (as they are for all the owner's manuals). The graphics are in there, but getting them to a separate brochure/booklet would not have been a straightforward task in the day. The instructions in the 230 SL book you reference do look more like photographs than artwork (as in the owner's manual and the later top instructions booklet). I also notice there was no part number or date on the back cover.

It could very well have been made later.

I have never seen the new style roadster top booklet for the 230 SL. They are out there for the 250 SL and the 280 SL. The 280 SL booklets I have use the same series of part number as the regular owner's manual. Roadster top - 113 584 18 96. My owner's manual is 113 584 16 96.