Engine bay detail - early car hood bumpers

[Jonny B]

I was at the Legends of the Autobahn show at Monterey this past Friday (14 Aug 2015). The Classic Center was displaying a car for a customer. A gorgeous deep red/brown 230 SL. I was not judging this particular class and asked Michael Kunz about the hood bumpers on the engine bay firewall flange. This car had four, and I was under the impression there were always three (to coincide with the three "buttresses" on the hood). He scratched his head a bit, and we went on to our separate duties. A little later he called me over and showed me the engine bay picture from the 230 SL brochure which clearly showed four bumpers. I have this brochure, both the horizontal and vertical format, and that is where the picture is from. The horizontal (landscape) format brochure is dated 863. Was this an early prototype? Were the early cars delivered this way?
I did look at 49er's engine photo and while you can't see all three, there is one bumper centered on the central heed latch.

Picture from brochure attached

[mbzse]

.../...the hood bumpers on the engine bay firewall flange. This car had four, and I was under the impression there were always three (to coincide with the three "buttresses" on the hood).../...

This is precisely correct

Was this an early prototype?

Yes, certainly so. In order to have something to present in early sales literature, they used a prototype Pagoda
See some details that were different in the pic, like shape of coolant header tank, and details around engine

Were the early cars delivered this way?

I am not sure. I have a friend who has a very early 230SL, I can ask if this detail remains original in his car, and if three or four "hood bumpers"

/Hans in Sweden

[66andBlue]

The part number for these rubber strips is 000 987 9135. It shows up first time in  Edition B of the 230SL spare parts list but is not listed in Edition A (July 1963); Edition B calls for three 50mm strips/car.
Thus it is possible that the first 130 230SL cars produced until Aug. 1, 1963 either had no strips, or four strips as shown in the brochure.
My hunch is that the crew that prepared a prototype for the photo shoot just put four strips into the bay because the 190SL with which they were familiar also has four.
I wonder what Achim our resident guru for very,very early 230SL cars has to say.  

[badali]

My 3 originals are still there...  They are in line with the " buttresses"

The belt strap near the tension spring is missing in the factory photo.

[hauser]

Johnny,  any chance you took a pic of the MBCC car?  If so would you post it for us?  Thx!

[Jonny B]

Unfortunately, I was not able to get any pictures. I was involved in the judging and scoring for the event, and simply was not able to get back to get a photo.

Hans, if you can check with your friend, that would be appreciated.

[114015]

This car had four, and I was under the impression there were always three (to coincide with the three "buttresses" on the hood).

Correct.

I have this brochure, both the horizontal and vertical format, and that is where the picture is from. The horizontal (landscape) format brochure is dated 863. Was this an early prototype? ...

Yes, early prototype. No serial car. Was _before_ serial no. 000001.

... Was this an early prototype? Were the early cars delivered this way?

No.

I wonder what Achim our resident guru for very,very early 230SL cars has to say.

Pffffff ....


Three hood bumpers, not four.


Achim
(earlyPagodaaficonado)