Data Plate Anomaly

[49er]

 Not sure if this has been brought up on the forum or not but my 280SL has an anomaly on the Data Plate located on the door post. The attached picture shows the data plate indicating the car's seating capacity was "3". I never paid any attention to it until I received a certified letter from Mercedes two months after I took delivery stating to ignore the information on the data plate and to quote the letter "As you can see yourself, the car is a 2-seater". If any of you have an early '69 280SL (without the kinder or "jump" seat) and you have a 3 listed, I would be happy  to forward a copy of the letter I received.

John

[pj]

In our Technical Manual, on the "Body and paint number plate" page, the photo of the driver's-side-door-mounted plate shows fewer facts about the car. There's no mention of seating capacity. Is it safe to presume the info on these plates expanded over the years?

[Peter van Es]

Kinder seat?

[49er]

Kinder seat?

Is that not the correct name?

John

[Peter van Es]

Child seat = 3rd seat... that might account for it?

[J. Huber]

I think what John was getting at is, his says seating 3 but he does not have the kinder seat. And yes John, kinder seat is pretty much what we call it. Unless you want to say Kinder Sitz, I suppose. Of course, I could be misinterpreting all this -- would rather be driving my car but its actually snowing (again!)

[49er]

I think what John was getting at is, his says seating 3 but he does not have the kinder seat. And yes John, kinder seat is pretty much what we call it. Unless you want to say Kinder Sitz, I suppose. Of course, I could be misinterpreting all this -- would rather be driving my car but its actually snowing (again!)

Your interpretation is correct James. Mercedes' letter was a CYA for them in case tried to stuff our two kids back there on the parcel shelf
 We have been down here in Vegas for the last few days and it has been nice and warm. Home tomorrow and hope things have warmed up a bit for you by then. We took a drive up to GV a few weekends ago ( not in the SL) and it was just beautiful. Nice part of the state to call home.

John

[J. Huber]

Hey John, once the sun makes a steady appearance, I'd love to spin over and see your one-owner 280SL up close... Soon! and would you be up for a First Sunday Drive or something in the Bay Area? We need to keep up with the rest of the Pagoda World!

[badali]

There is a car on ebay with the same info on the data plate but a 2 seater.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120712418654&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123

[49er]

There is a car on ebay with the same info on the data plate but a 2 seater.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120712418654&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123

 Looks like someone at the MB factory was asleep at the switch when they were putting the tags on:-) The VIN 4348 is pretty close to mine (3820). The side marker lights on that car look a bit too high?

John (home from Vegas and still have a few dollars in my wallet:-)