Chassis 000015

[DaveB]

I guess an interesting question is, at what VIN was the first true "sold" production car started?  #1?  #5?  #15?

that's a pertinent question, you'd assume MB would have settled on a standard configuration before release to the general public.

Somewhat less convinced now (still hoping though).

[porterricks]

Hello
congratulations on this early vehicle. I have the number 20 (VIN). The adopted 16 on the photo of the hood denotes the hull number. As an example: The chrome moldings of the doors were then fitted with the very early pagodas by hand. In my car there the number 21 is stamped from the rear.
The number 14 (VIN) was the known Böhringer - Pagoda (translate this text: http://www.pagode.info/61.htm) then painted in red. There was then a second race pagoda whose VIN is not known to me at the moment (I am on vacasion in Italy). Look to see if you can see there's red paint. That would be a really good story ...
  I would love to hear again from the vehicle.
many greetings
Ludger Lange, Germany

[cascadia]

I heard back from the Classic Center and no, the motor is not original to the car.  I wonder why someone would go to the trouble of going backwards by using this motor?
From their email:

The datacard is dated 29. July 1963.

The car was built as a light beige (181) body / maroon (460) hardtop car
with a red (203) leather interior.

[dtuttle123]

Bob - I think that color combination would be outstanding if you restore it back!!

light beige (181) body / maroon (460) hardtop car
with a red (203) leather interior.

[DaveB]

Ahh, that news is a little deflating
Not the first time Al and Michael have been right

She will be peppier with a .981 anyway!

[DaveB]

Hey John (49er),
In relation to your comment:
And I thought my garage was messy!

I think I am in with a shot for the messy garage title.
I make light of it but it is actually pretty embarrassing. The cleanup has begun but after 25 years of hoarding it won't happen overnight.
Anyway, in the spirit of feeling better by ridiculing others, have a look at the second photo - I downloaded this from an ebay auction some 10 years ago. If I was in the area I would have checked it out because it doesn't actually look too bad. But, presentation? 0 outa 5 mister. (no bids at 2k or so, those were the days

[DaveB]

I heard back from the Classic Center and no, the motor is not original to the car.  I wonder why someone would go to the trouble of going backwards by using this motor?

I'd hazard a guess, in the words of the late great Edmund Hillary: because it was there

With your contacts no doubt you can find a good rebuildable 230 motor. It'd be great to see the restoration process step by step, as for your super job on 'mossy green'.

[cascadia]

I'll definitely keep the group updated on the progress, starting with when I can actually retrieve the car, this coming November

[marek]

Nice barn find , would love to see more interior pics

I had in person car 24 , first with white stering wheel , english text etc now sold to germany
did the body work on car 21
know car 20 from former owner
26 first car eksportet to denmark is still here
33 in norway
46 in denmark for sale privat car of the danish MB importer
got the original rally plate form rome liege car number 14
so I feel I know the details

good luck restoring it ( or selling it to me  hehe )

Marek

[Sirasila]

The long manifold and two element injection pump would indicate that the motor is a 2.2 litre from a 220se/b coupe or sedan, not original to the car.

I found this photo in the book Faszination SL 230SL-280SL(W113) from the Mercedes Benz Museum.
It's a very early 230SL with the project engineers Guntram Huber and Erich Waxenberger. 
Seems to have a different engine setup than normal. 

[Shvegel]

I think it is a transplant. If you look at the test engine although it has the long manifold it had a 6 port fuel pump which was carried on into production. I would really doubt the originality of the engine.

[Jonny B]

I think this is a photo of one of the prototypes and not an early production car. I am traveling and do not have access to any of my historical information.

[66andBlue]

Shvegel and Sirasila.
It is not a transplant. As mentioned in my previous reply (see Reply #16) to Richard the photo in the Engelen book makes it clear that this is a test engine!

[cascadia]

Ok, it took a while but I finally got the car out of the warehouse it's been stored in since '85.  It took most of the day to get the tires swapped out and aired up, all the stuff cleared away and the car moved out into the daylight.  In the process I uncovered a '70 6.3 that I ended up buying also, but that's another story.  Now this early SL is back at my shop and I'm able to get a good look at it.  Aside from its tatty appearance it's actually very solid, but needs everything.  One detail that I hadn't noticed before is the extra trim strip on the soft top compartment lid, I've never seen that before.  Other 'early car' details:  The steering wheel is smooth with no ribs, and there's no data plate near the hood latch, doesn't look like there ever was one there.  Instead there's a very faint indentation of a vin stamp, about 4 inches wide.  I posted some more pics on Picasa, at this link:  https://picasaweb.google.com/pagoda113/W113Chassis000015?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK7TtZHgxe2dVw&feat=directlink

I don't think I'll have the time to take this one on, my plan is to clean it up some and post it to ebay.  Can't save em all.

[twistedtree]

Wow, that's very cool.  I see a number of things unlike other W113s:

- Intake manifold is completely different

- Shaped bulge in hood (bonnet) to accommodate the manifold

- It looks like it has the old 2-plunger injection pump from earlier cars, not the 6-plunger pump used in all the other W113s

- Does that engine number say 962?  Maybe that explains the engine config.  Maybe straight out of another model, or perhaps a replacement?

- Wood, or faux wood dash rather than body paint

[lurtch]

Hi Bob - - - YEE HAW !!!     

Now then, - - -  if I could only convince you to trailer it up to "Pagodas on Orcas-2012",   I know it would be an enormous hit and result in an overflow crowd of Pagodaphiles.

Larry in CA

[JamesL]

That sooooo needs saving properly!

[twistedtree]

I'd love to know if that is the original engine, or a retro fit.  If it's original, it shows that the first few cars just had engines from existing model lines dropped in, presumably while waiting for the production variants to be available.

[66andBlue]

Not original, see Bob's reply #27.

[mdsalemi]

That sooooo needs saving properly!

You can be first in line.  This is, regardless of he VIN or serial number, one sorry looking car, that will take a tremendous amount of patience; an enormous amount of resources, and a boatload of cash.  Good luck and godspeed to those who want to try their hand at restoration.  Maybe this is for the Classic Center...

[stickandrudderman]

Shame about that engine but the car is actually not too bad from those pictures.

[mdsalemi]

OK Stick, line up behind Tosh.  You can have auction paddle #2, he has #1.  My car didn't look nearly as rough as that one and I knew what it took to put it right...and that was 10 years ago.  This is one rough car which is why it was left as is for so long...but if you can do something with it, by all means...

[cascadia]

Alfred tipped me off that there may be another "16" stamp, by the trunk lock latch, and sure enough there it was.  The folks at the classic center sent me pictures of an early car they just finished restoring, #279, it also had the absence of a data plate near the hood latch, just a vin stamp.  Additionally, the folding top instructions sticker is in the glovebox door, never seen that before.  Fun stuff.  Rough as the  car is, these are the details that make it fascinating to me.

[J. Huber]

Mine too has the vin stamp and no plate near the latch (no. 871).

Now if I am not mistaken, in that glovebox picture, isn't that a stir stick from a cocktail circa late 1960s? For some reason it sent me back to my Dad's Country Club.

[49er]

Good eyes james

John