Indicator stalk and seat vents

[stassenk]

I have sold my '68 280sl californian coupé and bought a '70 280sl with soft/hardtop. It is a restoration project though, so I'm getting all the spares together before I start with the restoration. I've got everything, except for these two parts. I need one air vent for the passenger's seat and then I also need an indicator stalk for a right hand drive. Can anybody help please?!

[114015]

Hello Kurt,

From what I know (Naj's info) the RHD version of the column stalk is NLA. You need to use the LHD version A002 545 29 24 which is still available. The only difference is that the white inscriptions on the handle are top-down.

As for the air vents (if I understand you correctly, these are the two grids in the carpeted back panel of the seats), these are not available separately, only the complete back panel was until recently.
There is only a chance to get a used air vent from SO who has parted out SLs.

Make sure you get one from a 280 SL and not 230/early 250. Yours is plastic, the earlier ones are metal and the grid looks finer.


Good luck,

Achim
 

[stassenk]

Thank you Achim for the info! I know the lhd indicator stalk is still available, I bought one for my previous pagoda, but was hoping to find a rhd indicator stalk. Do you have the details of SO? I would like to contact them.

The other part that I forgot about, is the chrome connector piece on the side of the hardtop. It's where the front chrome and the rear chrome comes together above the right hand side window. Do you think SO will also stock something like this?

[114015]

Do you have the details of SO? I would like to contact them.

Sorry please, Kurt, I apologize. :'(
I am sorry I confused you. With "SO" I meant "someone" but nobody special.

You might want to contact Dan Caron (Benz Dr.) at least for the chrome parts; but I doubt he has (many) RHD parts for our SLs.

I don't know too many used parts dealers in the US anymore today. One may be Sam Mc Cready in Madison/WI. I bought a bunch of parts ~ 8 years ago and know that he is still alive selling.
Also, check ebay regularily; you can then also contact the sellers offline and ask for a specific part.

I have a few addresses in Germany (mainly only for LHD parts); you may want to contact me via PM if you like.

Good luck & best regards,
Achim

[al_lieffring]

If the only difference berween the LHD and RHD combination stalk is the text is inverted on the plastic handle, it is possible to remove the outer plastic slider by driving out the steeel pin and switching the slider from the old RHD stalk and put it on a new LHD stalk.

[stassenk]

Hi Achim, sorry, I thought it's an abbreviation of a company! Thank you for the contacts...I'll try to get hold of Benz Dr.

Unfortunately the previous owner took out the original indicator stalk and replaced it with an indicator stalk of a W114. So the stalk is black and not chrome and the black plastic handle is a bit larger than the pagoda's.

[jacovdw]

I'm embarrassed to say that it seems to be a rather common modification here in South Africa... 

I think it has to do with the replacement cost of a new unit that drive some PO's to take horrendous shortcuts like that.