RHD Pagodas

[James]

Hi All,
I have just purchased a RHD Australian  delivered 1966 auto SL230 , which has ben nicely restored by its previous owner.
Can any one tell me how many RHD Auto 230  pagodas were delivered to Australia and also how many RHD auto pagoda 230's were ever made ?
Thanks
James

[Garry]

Hi James,

Welcome to the Group.  

The figures in the technical manual only give the total for each month and year and model type.  Unfortunately the number of RHD to LHD s not known nor are the deliveries to the various countries unfortunately. The numbers could also change depending on tourist deliveries in Germany but built to the home country specs. You can do a search as there has been some discussion in the past on what the possible numbers may be but these are all only guesses.

Post some photos of your car, they are always enjoyed here seeing the different members cars.   Also feel free to ask questions and they will be answered if known.  There is quite a wealth of experience here on the Forum from around the world.

[James]

Thank you Garry,
An R113 SL  car has been a dream of mine since I saw one in a TV advertisement, for a brand of German tyres with a suction cup feature (!), in about 1968.
I am really looking forward to getting involved in the club
I will post some photos and a bit of history soon.
James

[aussiebattler]

Hi Fellas,
I'm new to this forum group also.

I have recently brought a 230sl in from the US, obviously it's a LHD.
I have embarked on a ground up restoration job, there's nothing much left in the car now, only wiring harness, fuel and brake lines underneath.
I intend fabricating a rotisserie for the body to help with the restoration.
I must be on a bit of a nostalgia trip, because I used to have a 230SL as my daily drive in the early '70s
It would be interesting to know where it is now. It was dark blue, in actual fact I've still got the radio blank for the dash.
I bought the car from Mackintosh Motors in Frankston, Victoria. It belonged to Murray Mackintosh's wife before I bought it.
I sold it to Arthur Chellingworth Motors in Perth when I needed some cash to buy a tugboat in about 1974.
Live in Tasmania these days.
I look forward to hearing from anyone.
Cheers, Jack

[Garry]

Hi Jack,

Also welcome to the group.  Whilst I cannot help with finding the earlier car, if you do a search of the members list you will see that there are a couple of members in Tasmania. I think the nearest to you will be out in Avoca and known on here as SPT280 who has some nice cars in his shed. I lent my car recently to a member who ives just down the road from me for a couple of months whilst I was away for him to photograph it all over to help him put his car back together as it also in an a lot of pieces. It helps.

This Forum is a great source as you are finding out and questions with photos is the way to go if you are looking for info.

[jedwards]

Hi Jack,
I have no insight into 230SLs, but early this year I was chatting to the Mercedes Heritage Archivist who happened to be visiting Mercedes World in Weybridge UK, while I  was making a fool of myself in the new SLS  on the test track.

I asked him about production numbers of RHD cars, but only in respect of the 250SL, which was only manufactured for 1 year.  As he explained, every panel forward of the firewall is unique to RHD cars and in my case of the 250SL, where production was quite small, were often hand made at considerable cost. While there are no Mercedes sanctioned  production figures for RHD W113's, the general view inside Mercedes is that only around 12% were RHD due to the very high costs of production. That means there were less than 300 RHD 250Sl's made.

The ratios may be similar for your 230SL, as the issue with the unique panels and the costs are likely to be similar., but this is still just a guess.

Jeff

 

[Paul & Dolly]

..and there are some interesting detail features, like the cutaway of the inside sill for your foot by the accelerator pedal

Paul