Author Topic: License Plate  (Read 6003 times)

UJJ

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Grass Valley
  • Posts: 327
License Plate
« on: March 29, 2018, 16:01:00 »
Look what I got yesterday, finally!
Question to CA residents: Do I get in trouble by not installing the front plate?

Thanks, Urban
Urban Janssen
Grass Valley, CA
1968 280 SL - 4speed manual
173 anthracite grey

49er

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, El Dorado Hills
  • Posts: 1426
Re: License Plate
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2018, 16:13:41 »
 Great plate number. I got the new "Legacy" CA black plates for my 2015 C300 that was the same number as my 280's original Black plate with an additional 2 at the end :). California does require front and back plates and with the advent of so many redlight cameras there seems to be more enforcement of having the front plate although exotics and corvettes seem to be exempt ;). It is a "fix it" ticket and not a moving violation. I have always had plates on the front of my cars, including the SL.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

kampala

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Beach Cities
  • Posts: 1246
Re: License Plate
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2018, 21:18:15 »
Very nice plate.

I did get a ticket for not having a front plate at the LA Airport on a Mercedes wagon a few years ago.  And as 49er said, it was fix-it ticket back then, so a pain to deal with, but not costly.  not sure how they handle it now.
250sl - later - manual
280sl - 1971 - Auto - LSD

neelyrc

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, AL, Birmingham
  • Posts: 1239
Re: License Plate
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2018, 23:34:18 »
Great number Urban, looks fine. I am amazed that you found it available.
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

SchroderHaus

  • Full Member
  • Junior Level
  • USA, CA, Menlo Park
  • Posts: 3
Re: License Plate
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2018, 05:01:05 »
Ha - great minds think alike!  8)
1969 280SE W108 M130.980
250,000 Miles Original Owner

KevinC

  • Guest
Re: License Plate
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2018, 17:19:43 »
I love it. The car is looking great!

lurtch

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Santa Rosa
  • Posts: 376
  • " ICON 66 "
Re: License Plate
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2018, 00:53:32 »
Hi Urban, 

Re: bare front bumper

This photo was taken in 2013. I have not been stopped yet, (as of today) - - however I only log about
3K miles per year, and most of those are with a 10-15 car touring group pack.

Nice work getting "W113".

Larry

Larry Hemstreet  in  N. Cal.

1966  230SL  (restored) Met. Anthracite w/ Maroon leather
1981  300TD-T (Concours condition, 86K, GETRAG 5sp.)
1982  300TD-T (parted out)
1986  560SEC (totaled)
1991  300TE (gifted)
1998  E320 (sold)
2004  E320 wagon (gifted)
2008  CLK550 Cabriolet

UJJ

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Grass Valley
  • Posts: 327
Re: License Plate
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2018, 23:03:13 »
Hi Larry

well I have this Plate on the front bumper and I like it not only because what's on it but also because of the German design and size. The US version just looks like a cookie sheet, especially when mounted on the bumper.
I think I'll try to leave it on and see what happens. I keep the other one in the trunk.

Best, Urban
Urban Janssen
Grass Valley, CA
1968 280 SL - 4speed manual
173 anthracite grey

114015

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Tecklenburg
  • Posts: 2080
Re: License Plate
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2018, 00:59:38 »

Beautiful car, Urban ! ;)


Best,
Achim

Achim
(Germany)

scoot

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Altadena
  • Posts: 2355
Re: License Plate
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2018, 13:28:27 »
Question to CA residents: Do I get in trouble by not installing the front plate?
It depends on where you go.  If you park in a Los Angeles city parking lot (such as the airport) you will likely get a fix-it ticket.  I've had cars with one plate for YEARS and the only place I've gotten one is parked on the street in Los Angeles, by a LAPD officer.   I live in the Pasadena area and it has never been an issue there.
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California

UJJ

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Grass Valley
  • Posts: 327
Re: License Plate
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2018, 15:10:46 »
Thank you for your insights. I have no plans to go to LA with the SL especially not to the LAX parking lot. 8)
I have driven around my Woodland/Sacramento area and last fall to Lake Tahoe etc. without any issues, even driving several times behind a cop. Perhaps they like the car or they not using their mirrors?
Well one day my luck may change, but until then....
Best, Urban
Urban Janssen
Grass Valley, CA
1968 280 SL - 4speed manual
173 anthracite grey

gimp

  • Guest
Re: License Plate
« Reply #11 on: April 07, 2018, 00:12:50 »
The New Brunswick Province has recently introduced a seasonal license plate.
The good point is that there is only one plate for the rear.
As a result I am able to mount my original 1972 German plate on the front.

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: License Plate
« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2018, 02:26:30 »
This is what I have on my car!
No - it is not a reproduction. I really don't go much for fake. This is a real German plate. It was given to me by Phil Smart who was the local Mercedes dealer. It came off a car that came from Germany. That was many years ago. Phil died, the family sold the business and I have lost all contacts. It's really too bad. Phil was a really nice person. One time, when he was still a salesman for Dad Davies, I chided him because of the advertisement that the cars were all hand-polished. I pointed out the orange skin of the finish, a normal appearance of the Glasurit enamel and only visible if you looked for it just right. And you could not polish that finish until it was well cured and that took a year. But Phil just ran his hand over the paint in a loving way and said: "Now it is hand polished"
« Last Edit: April 09, 2018, 17:19:43 by TheEngineer »
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4198
Re: License Plate
« Reply #13 on: April 09, 2018, 15:02:21 »
That's a Euro delivery plate is it not? I have a couple of those with the "BB" letters at the start.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

UJJ

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Grass Valley
  • Posts: 327
Re: License Plate
« Reply #14 on: April 09, 2018, 15:18:28 »
Yes, it is a Euro License Plate, however, it never was mounted on any car. My daughter who lives in Germany had this made as a gift in exchange to a W108 (280SE 4.5) I gifted to her.
Quite a deal, huh?
Best, Urban
Urban Janssen
Grass Valley, CA
1968 280 SL - 4speed manual
173 anthracite grey

Benz Dr.

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Port Lambton
  • Posts: 7220
  • Benz Dr.
Re: License Plate
« Reply #15 on: April 09, 2018, 15:52:00 »
Ha - great minds think alike!  8)

      And fools seldom differ.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4198
Re: License Plate
« Reply #16 on: April 09, 2018, 18:59:32 »
Urban, quite a deal indeed!
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: License Plate
« Reply #17 on: May 18, 2018, 17:59:33 »
You questioned my German license plate: BB-59U and I said it came from the factory in Germany. Now there is proof: In the posting about Paul Bracq  on many of the cars pictured the license plates are BB - plates.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2018, 18:03:55 by TheEngineer »
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

mbzse

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Sweden, Stockholm, Stockholm
  • Posts: 1748
Re: License Plate
« Reply #18 on: May 18, 2018, 18:41:21 »
Quote from: TheEngineer
.../...German license plate: BB-59U.../...
BB means the car was (is) registered in area Boeblingen which is a Suburb of Stuttgart.
/Hans S

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: License Plate
« Reply #19 on: May 18, 2018, 21:02:36 »
Böblingen, Württemberg, Land
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4198
Re: License Plate
« Reply #20 on: May 19, 2018, 00:09:52 »
Also notice, the numbers to the side in the orange background. That is the expiration date (at least that is how it worked for the plates I got with the Euro delivery set-up).
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

mbz.280sl

  • Associate Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, MA, Cape Cod
  • Posts: 100
Re: License Plate
« Reply #21 on: May 19, 2018, 13:15:46 »
Yes, the BB stands for Boeblingen but the factory where Mercedes manufactured these cars was Sindelfingen.
IBM is in the town of Boeblingen which is where I worked. Sindelfingen is a short distance away.
Otto
1969 280SL, 4 speed manual, AC,  Sand Beige