HISTORY THREAD - ZF-5 Speed Pagodas

[saraguate]

Hi Everyone,

I have a genuine, factory installed 1970 (off assembly line in late july 70 according to datacard) ZF-5 transmission 280SL. 

I've done quite a bit of research on the topic and I can't seem to find another car with the same specs in 1970 (as you probably know the last "official" factory fitted ZF-5 was in an early 1969 280SL).  Datacard, matching numbers,  everything matches, all prove that the car and its transmission are genuine.  SO...  I probably own the very last ZF-5 Pagoda ever produced???  I am desperately trying to establish this fact with some hard evidence... or, in any case discover otherwise.  Anyone with a suggestion/insight here?

Cheers!

CM

[Garry]

A very interesting question, as far as I can tell the newest 5 speed car listed on our registry is a 1970 with the last of the vin numbers 16964 but has a 240D motor fitted. The registry does not indicate if it is data carded with the 5 speed and with a modified engine to diesel, I suspect not.

 The next genuine data carded ones like mine (March 69) appear to be 1969 and earlier, maybe some others can chime in here.

There are lots of modified but non genuine ones, probably more than they produced.

Garry

[saraguate]

thx Garry,

I did see that 70 car in the registry and I agree with you. 

Maybe someone knows of a Pagoda ZF-5 registry out there?  I personally never heard of one so I'm not too optimistic.  Anyway keep the comments coming!

Cheers,

[114015]

Hello CM,

Congrats to your 5-speed, good choice!

As to the 1969 or 1970 - this holds true probably only for the US version.
European (or elsewhere on the Globus)  delivered cars could get their ZF gear box longer, AFAIK (but I am not too sure here and don't have my "Engelen" on hand) until the production end of the W113.

If yours is real factory 5-speed it must have the "230" option code in the "Wenig gewünscht" option box, otherwise...
What delivery is your car? Picture in avatar shows US headlights but that's no safe indication. What does the data card and body plate say?


Best regards,

Achim
(no SL, only parts & knowledge collector)

[saraguate]

thanks Achim!

The car has indeed the 230 code (and 422) on the data card (it has the 429 code that includes the 230 and 422, does that make any sense?) and the stamped gearbox serial number matches the datacard as well, so no issues there.  The MB classic center in Calif. also had a peak at it and gave it the thumbs up.  So unless the datacard as well as the stamped number on the ZF transmission are a clever forgery, I am 100% sure the car is authentic (I did my homework before I bought it). 

Achim, y real quest is to discover wether or not there are other factory ZF-5 cars that post-date mine.  That's not an easy task...  You mention Engelen... I don't' own the book and I don't' read/speak German so if you could go through the trouble of researching the book on my behalf, I'd be forever grateful!!!!

...and to clarify, the Pagoda on my forum ID is NOT the car we're talking about.  The ZF-5 speed car has the rare Euro Halogen headlamps. 

The body plate is in the car (where it should be!) and the car is two hours away from where I'm at so next time I go to our garage I'll check it (can't find the picture I took of it either).  Delivery code is, if I remember correctly, a 293 "direct sale" but according to my research the car was sold new through a dealer in Lausanne, Suisse.

If you want more info on the car I'd be delighted to email you the datacard and the body plate pics (once I get a new pic).

Again thank you for your reply!

CM