radio system 230SL 64

[Russell]

If you have an enlarged hole then probably a later becker will fit just fine.  Trouble with that is it will look less than perfect as the knobs for it will be the big knobs instead of the little knobs.   Not the end of the world though.   You _might_ be able to attach little knobs instead, but the tone arm (if any) is going to look odd.

i think i might be happy with looking original as oppose to being original. i get what you mean about the knobs.might be better to stay with the larger ones

[hkollan]

Hans, you have to start somewhere, and "as delivered" is about as good as you are going to get for somewhere; to say it doesn't make sense, well, doesn't make sense.

Michael,

I agree it was a bad choice of words. And yes "as delivered" is a clean cut way decide what to  judge in a Concours event.
 I see the reasoning behind that.
To me its just not a valid way to decide what to define as original equipment or not. In that case  basically any item a dealer decided to put on the car or what any customer convinced a dealer to install before delivery could be considered "original". No matter wether the option was made for that car or not.

Hans

[mdsalemi]

To me its just not a valid way to decide what to define as original equipment or not.

I guess the intelligent judges use the old "sniff test.". If it smells bad it probably is. One can easily make a case for a dealer installed period radio. I've been a Pagoda judge before, and I'd be OK with that.  I'd have a hard time with added fender chrome, non-MB alloy wheels, dealer added trim, however, regardless of who installed it and when.

[W113SL]

Hans:  I am respinsube for the MBCA concours rules.  We have primarily two classes in our Concours:  Sreet and Show.  The show class is much more restrictive.   In either class the car nneds to be displayed as it was delivered and we check all instruments including the radio.

Dealer installed options like A/C are considered original, and are judged but we typically do not judge other options such as fire extinguisher, luggage racks and fitted luggage.  Also if it is a Eiuro car it must dsiplayed as 100% Euro, no mixing of instruments and lighting.

We do ont consider extra side moldings original any case.

Peter Lesler
W113SL

[scoot]

i think i might be happy with looking original as oppose to being original. i get what you mean about the knobs.might be better to stay with the larger ones

The larger knobs aren't going to look very nice on your dash...   

[Russell]

The larger knobs aren't going to look very nice on your dash...   

now you have me worried.... i think i need the car back and see what i am up against with it. taking a look at the different units i think will help. i need to see some pictures of them installed and not just out of the car, then i might understand half the problem

[66andBlue]

Here is a photo of a Becker Europa Stereo II that was sold only with the larger knobs correct for a 280SL.
I modified it to fit the smaller opening of the 230SL dash plate and added the smaller round knobs (to match the other knobs, for example, the lighter on the left) and the lever. 
More in this topic: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=9134

[scoot]

Here is a photo of a Becker Europa Stereo II that was sold only with the larger knobs correct for a 280SL.
I modified it to fit the smaller opening of the 230SL dash plate and added the smaller round knobs (to match the other knobs, for example, the lighter on the left) and the lever. 

I very much like Alfred's solution.  If one wanted to be even more obsessive, the plastic name bar that says Europa II Stereo could be replaced with one that says Europa TR...   The tone lever on the left knob looks better than I would have expected on a small-face.   I think I have a small-face Grand Prix that has chrome tone knobs that are sized for the small shafts...   But that wouldn't fit a later radio.