1963 230sl transmission and headers

[jackstraw1960]

Two questions

Did the early 230's come with a 5 speed manual?

Did the early 230"s come with factory headers?

I have a very early 63 project car that hs both?

[DaveB]

Jackstraw - I'm not sure on the dates but I believe the 5 speed was an option from late '66 and the headers were discontinued in late '65.
So it seems your car had the transmission replaced. If you can post pictures of the transmission we can identify it.

[jacovdw]

The tubular steel exhaust headers were installed up to July 1965 (up to engine number 011153 for manual transmissions or up to engine number 003213 for automatic transmissions) and after that it was replaced with the short cast iron manifolds.

Not a 100% sure about the ZF 5 speed, but I seem to recall that it was introduced as an option in 1965 and was available as such up to 1971. Maybe others can confirm this.

[mbzse]

.../...the ZF 5 speed, but I seem to recall that it was introduced as an option in 1965 and was available as such up to 1971. Maybe others can confirm this

The ZF box for the M-B W113 Pagoda (230SL at the time) SA 230 and 232 was available for ordering at the dealerships as of July 1966.
As for the first deliveries, well I have no confirmation, but probably early autumn 1966
/Hans in Sweden

.

[graphic66]

My 230SL made in October of 65' has the tubular headers.

[114015]

Fully confirm Jaco's explanation here.

Somewhere in the "Engelen" it has been mentioned that one of the (1962's) cased prototypes was seen with a gear shift know showing the 5-speed arrangement.
So, maybe one (or two) of the protoypes (not the pre-production cars from Spring 1963) had already the ZF box.


Achim