66/67 model 230

[johnaz]

I have reviewed the info on production and the 230SL I am looking to buy was made in early August, serial 195--.
It is titled as a 1967, but the site says maybe it should be a 1966?  Or in late 1966 did they still use the cutoff for year for cars delivered and titled first time after about Aug as 1967 year?
So this car is a 1967, but not one of the 185 1967 cars made in 1967, so really are more than 185 actual 1967 titled 230's?
Was power steering still an option, not standard, for 1967 year cars?
Just trying to clarify the situation.
Thanks,
John

[KevinC]

John, easy question first... power steering was an option, not standard. I am not certain of the exact time of switch over here in the US but it was typically in the late summer/early fall period. I am thinking that possibly your car is a MODEL YEAR 1967 but PRODUCED in 1966 if this is what your title and VIN suggest. 

[Jordan]

John, not sure where you are getting your info but you can find it all in the tech manual WRT your VIN and manufature dates.  If the last five digits of your VIN are 195?? and it is a 230SL then your car was made in December 1966, not August, which would explain why it is titled a 1967.  US cars built after about end of September in '66 would have been designated a '67, much as they are today.  Not sure when this started.  BTW, there were only 95 230SL's actually built in 1967, all in January.  Lots of info in the tech manual, check it out.

[pj]

Don't forget guys, that the whole concept of a "model year" didn't have the same significance for our W113s as for all the Detroit vehicles. In Detroit, the 1966 Chevrolet Impala looks remarkably different from the 1965 Impala. If they started manufacturing them in October (say) of 1965, it was nevertheless obvious from the design that it was a 1966 Impala. (And they advertised it as such, with the marketing department having determined that the fall was a good time to roll out the subsequent year's design. Kinda like tv shows, school semesters and National Hockey League seasons.)

But a 230SL built in March 1965, or December 1965, or even September 1966 was still essentially the same car. It almost doesn't make sense to refer to it by a year at all.

It's no surprise that the designations given to W113s by the licence authorities in the U.S. of America conformed with the Detroit practice. That's why the term is "model year" rather than "year of manufacture."

[johnaz]

Thanks for the clarifications, understand now.  And it is a Dec build so for sure a 67 model year car.  And it has the power steering option.

On another subject for a 230SL, can one add the factory type a/c system to a car and still retain it to be truly 'stock'?  As I think all 230 cars, if they had a/c was dealer installed?  What exact unit would be correct to install in a 230?  And does it hurt authenticity to install an aftermarket system with rotary compressor?
Any input is appreciated.  My car will live in Arizona, not used much as very stock nut and bolt restoration, but nice to have a/c.

[tradjim]

my last 5 # 19620 is that actually 1967 ?

[Garry]

Tradjim,

my last 5 # 19620 is that actually 1967 ?

Makes it a Dec '66 build.

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/USModelYear#ProductionMonths

[tradjim]

Thank You

[KevinC]

Yes... 1967 Model year, 1966 BUILD year. Mine ends in 19213 so it's about a month older than your car.

Just an FYI...you may need to be cautious  when ordering some parts...I just learned the hard way that while my car most definitely is a 230SL, the water pump used was meant for a 250SL. They were producing the last of the 230's and first of the 250's simultaneously which I would imagine lead to the difference.  

[tradjim]

Interesting Thanks