1969 280sl Euro

[Brad_Ayer]

How can you tell if your 1969 280sl is a Euro version? 

[Jordan]

Brad, while there are various options that would suggest a Euro car, the easiest is probably to look at the data plate in the engine bay over the left front tire.  The third line will start with your VIN and the last number on that line will tell you where the car was going after being built.  A 2 or 3 means is was going to the German market, a 5 is for the rest of Europe, a 7 would be for the US.  You can look here http://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/BodyandPaintNumberPlate and it explains it all.
Cheers
Marcus

[Brad_Ayer]

Thanks Marcus

[Brad_Ayer]

Marcus,

The letter 7 is listed so it must have been going to the US but here are some things that are confusing:

1. Hard map pockets in door panels
2. Pass. mirror in sun visor
3. Flash to pass euro. only turn signal stalk.
4. Speedo in K.'s
5. Temp gauge in c.
6. Non D.O.T. taillamps
7. Side marker lamps are reflectors and have been added on

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Brad

[Jordan]

Brad, the 7 would indicate the car was intended for the US market.  Do you have the data card for the car?  It should tell you what options came with the car, such as options 461 and 491 which were for the US market.  Maybe others can comment on some of the items but it may be that one of the previous owners has some of the gauges and various other items changed.  Do you know the history of the car?  My 66 230SL is a Euro version (German market) but it had US headlights and speedo in miles.  They were changed when the car was imported into the US.  I have since changed them back.  The side marker lights suggest some work and modifications were done to the car.  If you want to return it to its original condition a good place to start is the data card.  It can be had from the MB Classic Center in Invine CA.  They will need the VIN and proof of ownership I believe.  Good luck in your restoration.
Marcus

[bogeyman]

We are coming up on 40 years since the last 113 was built, so it is not inconceivable that a few of them have been back and forth to Europe several times. I wonder what the record is?

[BACKMARKER]

If someone were trying to convert a Euro car to a U.S. car the dash gauges and flash to pass turn signal would be very expensive to change.  Also if it is a 7 car why would someone go to the expense to change these items over to euro?

[Douglas]

Brad, the next thing I'd do is to verify the VIN. This certainly sounds like a Euro car wearing a US VIN. Did you check the VIN  that's actually etched into the engine compartment on the passenger side? Does the VIN make sense based on the configuration of the vehicle? 11304410.... (for a stick) and 11304412.... (for an automatic).

[Garry]

I suspect they are doing what Mercedes, and Volvo, used to do for our defence force guys and others that wished to order from Australia so it got an Australian order designation, but pick it up in Europe and use it there for a couple of years then bring it home at end of tour or end of holiday so sometimes they could order KPH speedo etc for use in Europe but was actually ordered thru a Benz dealer here for Germany delivery but an Australian VIN.  I see no reason why the US dealers did not do the same thing.

Garry

[Shvegel]

I worked for a company that imported grey market cars in the early eighties. In order to pass DOT(US Department of Transport) inspection you had to have a speedometer in miles, Side marker lamps, sealed beam headlamps and door bars installed. Also there is a sticker telling you how many Kilometers the car had traveled before the speedometer was changed.

[Garry]

If it was like Australia, you could do a personal import, as distinct from dealers doing grey imports for resale, but it then had to comply with Aust regs so you borrowed from mates the items needed and changed over the parts, got the registration and put back on the original other than lights that shone the wrong way. I did a few until the rules were relaxed a bit and nowadays they don't care if it is left or right hand drive so long as it is thirty years or more old otherwise you get hit with import tax and GST.

[Douglas]

If it was made for the US market, then it should have the US market features. In other words, a US-spec European delivery model should look like a US-spec car.

If this were my car, I'd begin by scrutinizing the body to see if it's truly the car indicated in the paperwork.