What are code(s) for a 4-speed and ZF 5-speed trans on the (280SL) data card?

[Cole]

Hi,

I have a '68 280SL with a stick shift that was originally sent to Italy. The VIN has the 113044 "10" indicating manual trans. I'd like to confirm what the original trans was on the car. Where on the data card is the type of manual trans specified and what would the code be for a 4-speed and a ZF 5-speed?
Thanks!

[Cole]

More info on this:
My 280SL currently has a 4-speed trans and there's no indication that the car was originally a 5-speed. I was just hoping that maybe it was and a prior owner then changed it.
I don't have the data card to check for the "230" code indicating a ZF 5-speed trans. The data plate attached shows only code "620" for Italy.
Joe Alexander was very helpful in providing some good info on this, particularly that a conversion from 5-speed to 4-speed or vice versa, would have involved a lot of work and expense for a prior owner as well as for me now.
If anybody has a picture of a data card with the 5-speed option or a picture of a data plate indicating this, I'd like to see it.

Thanks!

[Jonny B]

Take a look here - https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=13297.0

The 429 code is also listed in the technical manual (available to full members) it is the combination of power steering and the 5-speed manual.

[Cole]

I appreciate it.
These 5-speed codes are clearly on the data card, but what about the data plate on the car?
Does anybody have a data plate or seen one that includes the ZF 5-speed code(s)?
I'm not certain MB put these 5-speed codes on the data plates though it would make sense that they did. See the picture of my data plate above which does not show them --either because my car was not a factory 5-speed or they don't include those codes on the plate.

Thanks.

[Garry]

here is a data card with the 5 speed option.  And no it was not put on the plate on the car by MB

[Cole]

Thanks. That helps.

[MikeSimon]

So, my question is, was there a "1" in the code section for the transmission.
The "10" indicates 1= Left Hand Drive and 0 = manual.
Mine is an automatic and it says "12" there, 1 = LHD and 2 = Auto Tranny.
Was there a "11"?

[sandcrab59]

Gary I see your data card, but in which box is the code for a 5 speed. What is the code?
Tom

[Matt Stickley]

Tom,
5speed manual is Code 230; Hi Diff Ratio is 232.....
Anybody know what 666 and 320 mean?
This is the Data Card for my ZF 5 speed 1969 280 SL.....
cheers
Matt😊

[Garry]

666 transport preparation, the rear diff ratio on that car was 4.08 and the 320 is left hand mirror

[neelyrc]

.... This is the Data Card for my ZF 5 speed 1969 280 SL.....

Matt, Very close to my car leaving the factory.  Mine is 007749 only 36 cars before yours.  I also wanted the 5 speed but when I ordered they had already stopped processing 5 speeds for the USA

[Shvegel]

Another telltale indicator of a 5 speed car is the low number on the gearbox ID box.  4 speeds were produced in much greater numbers and carry much higher serial numbers in the tens of thousand range.   We did some "Supposing" a few years ago and at that time the theory was that the body plate listed only options that effected the body build.   Things like radio prep where there would be an additional hole for an antenna or market info where you would have marker lamp codes etc.  Since the 5 speed didn't require the body to be modified it wouldn't be listed on the body tag.

[sandcrab59]

Matt:
Thanks for that picture of your data card.
I finally found time to get back to the site.
I thought my car had it , but it does not.
A euro and produced end of jan 1971.
Thanks
Tom

[Matt Stickley]

Thanks Gary,
You have been so helpful, as always....
Matt