Author Topic: Is it a prototype of W113?  (Read 12227 times)

Radek

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Is it a prototype of W113?
« on: December 24, 2009, 08:50:58 »
Hi,
My name is Radek and I am an MB W123 owner and big enthusiast of cars at all. I decided to write to you because I have a problem with identification of the one of MB cars which picture I attached.
I think it is a prototype of W113 but I am not sure. Any suggestion would be great.

Best regards,

Radek

Naj ✝︎

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2009, 08:56:30 »
More of a 107 than a 113?

naj
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Peter van Es

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2009, 09:54:47 »
Photoshopped Triumph Stag?
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

Norm

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2009, 11:54:06 »
There is a picture of this car in the book "Mercedes-Benz 190 SL - 280 SL Vom Barock zur Pagode" by Gunter Engelen.  The book is in German but on page 191 there is a picture from the front.  My best translation is that the car was a design exercise for a successor to the 230 SL by Friedrich Geigers in 1967.   The picture of the front is dated 7. 3. 67.  

If you want me to scan the pictures and German notation please PM me with an e-mail address where I can send it.

Norm
« Last Edit: December 24, 2009, 13:57:40 by Norm »
Norm
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mdsalemi

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2009, 15:40:40 »
Anything dated 1967 is certainly not a prototye of a W113.  We all know the W113 design was pretty much set by 1963 and in production in 1964.

It looks very much like a modernization exercise, perhaps with elements that would later appear in the R107.

Mr. Bracq sent me many photos over the years of design exercises that he did for the W113 in 1960-1962.  I posted one before (and again here, the color one dated 1960), and here is another.  I should note that the Engelen book barely, if at all, gives mention to Paul Bracq.  I should also mention it is one of the ONLY books about SL's that does not mention him.  What I posted below is unsigned (but in M. Bracq's collection) because it is part of a technical illustration.  The color renderings are indeed signed and dated.  It appears as if the more technical illustrations--those in B&W such as the one posted below, are never signed and are generally part of a several view technical illustrations.  They are often followed by a color rendering and those are signed and dated.

I mentioned once before that I have copies of patents for the Pagoda hard top, naming Bela Barenyi and Paul Bracq as co-inventors.  One might think that a co-inventor would get a little more credit.  I can't read German but I suspect the Engelen book isn't perfect or complete.

Now HERE is a prototype [drawing only of course] of the W113...circa 1960 or so.  Can you see the resemblance to the 190SL?  It should not be a surprise; Bracq did the V.2 hard top for the 190SL and guess what THIS hard top looks like?

N.B.  Knockoffs with "gangsta" white walls...I love it! ;)
« Last Edit: December 26, 2009, 15:16:48 by mdsalemi »
Michael Salemi
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w113dude

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2009, 18:12:51 »
I agree with Peter, It's a Stag.

66andBlue

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2009, 18:24:13 »
No, it is not a "Stag".
Norm identified the car shown in Radek's picture correctly, it has the the same license plate: BB-A 716.
According to Engelen's text the Geiger design in 1967 was indeed a proposal for a successor model to the W113. He just used a 230SL for his mock-up. One modernization design ("Modell IV") for the 280SL that did not go into production is shown on the preceding page.
Alfred
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Peter van Es

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2009, 18:32:30 »
It was just my first impression.... and they usually are right! But photoshopping was difficult in 1967!
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

Norm

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2009, 23:30:05 »
Here is the picture in Engelen's book.

(Thanks Peter, your fix worked.  I can post pics again ;D)
« Last Edit: December 24, 2009, 23:32:24 by Norm »
Norm
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Radek

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2009, 13:48:55 »
Thank You very, very much for your help Norm! Best wishes for all You guys!

mdsalemi

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2009, 15:14:34 »
Managed to get the photos uploaded.  See previous post on the thread.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
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2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
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Radek

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113? (second question!)
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2010, 22:40:39 »
Hi, it's me - Radek - again.
I come with another question: what can you guys say about this interior?

Louis

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113? (second question!)
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2010, 23:31:22 »
Hi, it's me - Radek - again.
I come with another question: what can you guys say about this interior?

That there is no steering wheel  :o .

Jordan

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2010, 00:42:21 »
I don't see any indication it is a MB, although it looks like it was taken from the Polish MB website.  ???  I can't see MB putting controls behind the steering wheel, very impractical.  :P
Marcus
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Radek

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2010, 12:46:12 »
I don't see any indication it is a MB, although it looks like it was taken from the Polish MB website.  ???  I can't see MB putting controls behind the steering wheel, very impractical.  :P
Yes, this picture is from polish MB web site! we have a Trivia game - so I am looking for answer. For sure it is an MB vehicle - but question is which one. Now, look at the plate under the clock - you can see there (removed in Paint) space for model designation! Just like in this 190 SL. I think that picture comes form some book like the previous pic of prototype of W113 came from. Does anyone know answer?

Best regards,

Radek
« Last Edit: January 10, 2010, 12:47:44 by Radek »

Ulf

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #15 on: January 11, 2010, 12:25:31 »
To me it also looks like a facelift of the 113 or perhaps an early design study for the 107 - I can see why some people mention the Triumph Stag - a funny anecdote is, that Triumph actually purchased a Pagoda and dismantled it completely to get the inspiration for the Stag - it would be quite ironic (and unlikely) if Mercedes did the opposite later on while designing the 107.
The Stag, by the way, could have been a great car if British Leyland hadn't been in such turmoil at that time, if US legislation hadn't threatened to ban convertibles (hence the ungainly t-bar) and if their engineers hadn't stubbornly refused to use the existing (Buick-derived) 3,5 V8 instead of welding to Dolomite-engines together...
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treedoc

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Re: Is it a prototype of W113?
« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2010, 00:08:46 »
Re second question, looks to me like a developmental prototype 220S/300S Coupe [fixed hardtop] of the mid to late 1950's
Could also have been a special one off by a specialist coachbuilder.
All control knobs, rear vision mirrow, winscreen wipers, ash tray look to be pure 1950's MB. Lever on glove box suggest links to the 300SL
« Last Edit: January 13, 2010, 00:15:34 by treedoc »