Assembly line build sheet.

[Bob G ✝︎]

I have been reading a new book (The Mustang and Couger Tagbook (1965-1973 models) by Kevin Marti

 This book raised some similar questions as to what instructions each car got while going down the assembly line. We all know our car had computer cards telling us what equipment our cars received down to the key lock codes.

This leads me to a question. What was attached to the car as it was built on the assembly line. What determined which country & orgin and equipment, and options should each car receive? When were the VIN tags assigned to each SL built?

Mercedes-Benz has what is called a birth certificate you can purchase, but what did the line workers look at when building ,painting and installing options for body, interior and drivetrain? What holes to punch out?
What clued them in that this was a car for the USA and not consumption of another country?

The Mustang and Couger tag book had some very interesting stories and explanations. Of course, Ford had many plants building the same cars.

I wonder if there was a master build sheet attached to the car as it left each point of assembly and was this signed by an inspector as it moved from station to station down the production line. I wonder if any of the linemen building these cars were ever interviewed and could tell us how it was done.

Bob Geco

[Richard Madison]

Bob:

I had three vintage Mustangs over the years. One of the Mustang owner's challenges was to find the "Build Sheet" for his car. Ford had destroyed all the option information for vintage Mustangs so Ford could not tell you what options came with a specific car. The Build Sheet had a lot of information. The Sheet traveled with the car down the assembly line (at Metuchen NJ, Dearborn MI, or the California plant.)

The Sheet was left someplace in the car under some part. Sheets have been found under the carpeting, inside the roof headliner, and in other odd places.

Not sure about Mercedes but I've never heard of a similar build sheet being used. I seem to recall reading that as orders came in from dealers they were punched and coded into the data cards, VIN's were assigned at that early stage. The data cards specified the options, the market area (such as USA) and a lot more, as you all know.

The Data Cards traveled with the cars down the produstion line. (I had the honor of an escorted Stuttgart tour to watch cars being built, including W113's.)

Maybe Klaus D can tell us more.

A few years ago, I was in contact wih the daugher of a retired MB production line worker but she said he did not want to talk about his old work.

Richard M, NYC

[cascadia]

Of the Pagodas I've sold, only once have I found a build sheet.  It was a 1971 model, a true 71, the sheet was pressed under the passenger side seat bottom.  It was more of a narrow paper strip than a sheet and I think it was just the option codes.  I'll look for the photo and post it.
Bob in Portland

[cascadia]

Here's what I think was an assembly line build sheet, shown here along with the data cards for the car.  This was a great car - 1971, db050 white with green leather, optioned with kinder seat, luggage and limited slip rear.