Yesterday I said that everyone should get the Brooklands Gold Portfolio; I did this based on Doug Kim's advice. Last night I sat down and began to read in earnest the reviews starting with the 230SL of 1963. Some eye-opening information, probably due to pre-production information--
1) A full-width bench seat was supposed to be available, and it was indicated that this would be most certainly taken with the automatic! Isn't that a hoot. Has anyone seen a rare factory bench seat??
2) The fuel injection system was supposed to maintain a low idle RPM of 350. Mine idles smoothly at about 700; I can't imagine much lower...
3) There was an indication of the elusive "California Coupe" for the US market; Pete Lesler's Holy Grail. But just because it was indicated it existed doesn't mean it did (see bench seat), hence his quest.
4) One report indicated that the soft top can quickly and easily be REMOVED with 4 screws (is this true??) for "winter stowage" in your garage as you fit the hard top for winter driving! Perhaps this is better then leaving it all scrunched up inside the tonneau whilst the hard top is installed.
5) Unless I am misunderstanding the reports, it was indicated in many reports that the cabin temperature is controlled not by the flow of coolant, but by the mixture of heated and ambient (cold) air. I don't think this is the case, as my '69 most certainly has the coolant flowing through a control valve behind the firewall through an adjustable valve; this adjustment is controlled by a wire from the heating control levers on the dash.
6) Legendary MB fit and finish debunked! The main reason why body parts fit so well was ample use of body lead!
What interesting things can you folks pull out of these early reviews?
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
