Early Prototype 230SL

[mdsalemi]

From one of my old contacts in Michigan, having nothing to do with Mercedes-Benz, I was informed that what purported to be an early or pre-production 230SL is now going to made available for sale. Those of you with a LONG memory may recall back in 2005-2006 there was a thread about this car. It can be found here:

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=3449.msg36675#msg36675

Many old names (members) no longer active can be found in the thread. Drill down deep enough and you'll see that I went to see this car on September 22, 2006. Nothing seemed to make a lot of sense. Last names weren't used. The car wasn't running and was in a barn. Not much on the car looked completely original. The car was worn, I don't even think it was running, or at least they didn't show me. I couldn't take useful pictures because it was dark in the barn. My little camera needed a little light just to FOCUS for goodness sake.

BEFORE this thread became active, the same people were inquiring about another car in California; turns out they were one and the same and owner of the car in Michigan knew it. Why on earth were they being so secretive? Why did they ask questions to which they already knew the answers? Why didn't the original poster of the questions (who wasn't the owner) a person named Brandon Carlson who came on the forums here as stitchmon, offer all the information?

Apparently when I went to see the car, the owner wasn't there. Only his friend Brandon, but it was the owner's home. It was all so darn mysterious.

Now, 16 years later the same car comes up for sale with all the detail pieced together.

Anyway the car's owner died. He was the second owner apparently and now the widow wants to sell it. It should be for sale one of these days on one of the places that sell cars, such as BaT.

[Peter van Es]

Interesting to revisit that old thread. The first sets of posts (prior to the end of 2006, all of those with signatures in the main body of the post) are actually converted from the ASP.Net forum we used to run back then, and even the pictures made it across. Excellent s/w developer who did that... 

Very interesting to read the typewritten letter to Uhlenhaut. I must have missed that when it was first posted in 2012.

[rwmastel]

Would be interesting to know if that owner ever worked with the classic center to get information.  If so, it should be well documented in the upcoming sale.

[Jack the Knife]

When I opened up the brochure, I was hoping to see a Talbot mirror mounted a bit forward, like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBT0OWKOlLc @ 0:20-0:47.

[mdsalemi]

When it all came across my virtual desk yesterday, I was a bit puzzled.

The initial set of questions from back in 2005/2006 were again being asked in 2022. However, when Brandon Carlson was asked by Rodd Masteller at that time (2005), to come and join our forums to pose the questions (initially posted on some other MB forums) he did; but his friend Tom Kladzyk, the owner of the car, knew the history in precise detail! So, if the owner knew the history of the car in detail, why was he sending his friend Brandon on a wild goose chase to find answers to questions he already knew?

As I mentioned I did look at the car, in a dark barn. I don't recall the car as being anything but tired and worn. They didn't take it out, and didn't run it for me. That was September 2006, over 16 years ago. Nothing more specific was heard from Brandon Carlson, Tom Kladzyk, or anything about this car.

Tom Kladzyk died in 2021. His widow is trying to sell the car now, and the same questions are being asked. I suggested (right or wrong, I don't know) that the condition of the car, the completeness and how well it runs were more important in determining value than "numbers".

I expect the car to show up on some for sale site soon, like BaT. Apparently the car looks and runs well, but this was information withheld or unproven in 2006.

[114015]

Thanks a lot, Michael,


for putting this info up here again.
Yes, I have often thought about this weird VIN prototype car with engine no 10-000001 which we talked about back then (and the lousy quality pictures of...).... Is it true, is this already SIXTEEN years ago....?
Oh, where has all the time gone by since then? 

So happy to hear that this car is now appearing again
and also to see real pics of this treasure very soon - hopefully.

Truly a great story.

Best,
Achim