230SL <Auto anyone?

[Benz Dr.]

So, I've been working on car number 000064, as in the 64th 230SL built. While building the engine, I noticed that the engine number was 000151. This kind of makes sense that the factory would have a small stock of engines ready so that the assembly line would function smoothly. I know that the first 300 cars were all standards before the auto trans option became available but how many autos did they actually make that first year?
Not only is this a very early car, but it also has power steering and is copper in color - something that has to be very rare. I expect this car was special ordered this way long before the first owner took delivery.

But here's the actual story: I'm also working on another 230SL - this one's also a 1963, auto, with power steering. In this case, it was built at the end of the year on Dec. 13th, 1963 - the data card confirms it. This is VIN 1,1096. I'm also doing an engine build on this one. In this case, the engine number on this car is 000086. At first I thought the block had been replaced but the data card shows this engine number so it is correct.
 The standard and auto engines are not exactly the same as I believe the dowel pin on the end of the crank is shorter for the auto than for the standard. The factory actually built this engine before it built the one that went into VIN 000046 but they didn't install it until much later at the end of the year. My only conclusion is that a 1963 auto 230SL is one very rare car.

[66andBlue]

Hi Dan,
according to Engelen the first 230SL with automatic transmission was VIN 000600:
600  07.10.63 Bau des 1. Wagens mit Automatikgetriebe.
Thus you are correct, probably only a few auto 230SL were built between October 7 and end of December 1963.

[Benz Dr.]

I'm guessing less than 90 - 95 automatic cars in 1963 if that's the case. Odd that they would have engines ready right from the start of manufacture and yet not really use them until they built 700 units. I suppose demand drove that and also extra price.

[J. Huber]

Those early 230SL automatics really were the best Pagodas... (yea, okay so I am a little biased)

Mine is VIN 000871. The stamped date on data card is November but the actual built date would be earlier, correct? Where do I find that? In the lowermost left box entitled "Übernahmetag" it shows 8-63...

Anyway, my Motor Nummer was 000045. The operative word: was. In 1980, when we rescued this car, the engine was apparently shot. My father paid to have a MBZ factory short block put in. The cost in 1980? $2376.36 for the block itself. Whole job invoice was $4589.56. Still going strong! Thanks Dad!!

So sadly, the original engine is history -- but fortunately I still have the dog-tags to identify our fallen hero...

[66andBlue]

...
Mine is VIN 000871. The stamped date on data card is November but the actual built date would be earlier, correct? Where do I find that? In the lowermost left box entitled "Übernahmetag" it shows 8-63...

James,
your data card is correct, the car rolled of the assembly in November because the last car made in October was VIN 000848; see: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/USModelYear.
Engelen also shows that VIN 000862 was put into service on Oct. 30, 1963 and VIN 000906  on Nov. 06, 1963.
However, I am puzzled by "Übernahmetag" it shows 8-63 !
Normally I would translate "Übernahmetag" as the date when the owner took delivery of the car - but it cannot be August 1963.
Since we don't want to hijack Dan's topic perhaps you can start a new one showing the image of this entry on your data card.

[Jowe]

Having a look in our car registry http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Registry/Start and sort the VIN or engine no. coulumns (by clicking the column headers) you will find interesting information. Also, in the Pagoda Notes Volume 9 Issue 3 (for full members only) there is also interesting info about the early produced pagodas.

[J. Huber]

Hi Alfred. Against your advice, I am sticking the image here -- sorry Dan, although I think its all part of learning just what you were suggesting. The peculiar nature of the earliest cars...

Anyway, you will see from my Data Card, that the "Übernahmetag" field has a bunch of info in it, ending in 8-63. However, in looking at the Data Card example in the Tech Manual, this same kind of stuff is below that box. So maybe its a matter of the printing quality of the era?

[66andBlue]

Hi James,
I tried to blow up the filed but the image resolution is not high enough to make out what is actually in this field. I can see "S.T. ?-63" but the the lettering is totally different from the other entries, it almost looks like some pre-print. In any case I would go with the date stamp "12. Nov. 1963" as the manufacturing date. Perhaps the ?-63 was the order date?