Rodd, you are right. However, today's detailed service and repair records simply did not exist way back when. I have some original parts invoices, etc. and they are quite sparse. Even the original bill of sale for my car doesn't quite indicate whether the car was new or used; it does not even indicate mileage! It just has my uncle's name and the VIN, date and price. Nothing else. Was Drexel Motors in Pennsylvania a Mercedes dealer? Dunno. The reporting and recording requirements of the 1960's and 1970's were not up to today's legally mandated requirements. In fact, it was BECAUSE of this kind of spareness in detail that things are much improved today.
The only legal way of proving ownership is with titles. Most states did not have titles back in the 1960's and as states required them, those original owners--as my uncle's car was--were not required to get them. So, my car never had a title until I got one in Michigan.
Not every service invoice from way back when would indicate mileage. Without the benefit of computers, things got left off. And what of restored cars? Any service records that I might have in my pile--including parts invoices--are simply irrelevant. I am not the only one with a restored vehicle!
The point of all this is as I stated--memories are short. We simply don't know exactly what was done to these cars. Even if you stood over the mechanic in 1970, did you know what you were looking at? Except in the case of the rare 113 with a long list of detailed service work, trust your own judgement and do a darn good inspection before buying one--particularly from dealers that can doll up a dog to the unwitting buyer.
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
