1967, not 1964!

[mdsalemi]

I always believed, in modern times at least, that my uncle's first Pagoda was a 1964.  The "evidence" I had was faded memories, along with a parts catalog "B" which is 1964, and some brochures from that time with his notes and pricing in them. It all could or should have pointed to 1964.  I have a later parts catalog dated 1967, that says 230/250SL, but the older one has more notes in it, all handwritten. Based on VIN, looks to be October 1966 production, sold new in March 1967.

While in NY in June visiting my aunt, she gave me the following invoice.  Well, was I surprised to find it was a 1967! I sincerely doubt there was a 3rd Pagoda.

For those in the know, note the 2% NY state sales tax (OK, stop laughing now), and the complete, handwritten invoice.  Quaint!

That particular car was destroyed in a crash, and replaced with the 280SL purchased in late 1969, used--but barely, from a Simca dealer.  That you can read about in Pagoda Style.

[thelews]

Well, it's really a '66

[49er]

 Very cool Michael. I especially like the stick figures drawn on the backside of the invoice, perhaps put their by your Aunt's young nephew 2% tax. That is the most amazing part and I thought I did pretty good paying only 5%
And John, if the car was built in October '66 and sold in March '67, it would be a 1967 model here in the US.
John

[mdsalemi]

Invoice says 1967.  In the USA, model changeover was in September.  So most if not all cars sold in the USA from mid-September of 1966 on, were billed as 1967s, and eventually titled as such in 1973 (for those that got titles).  Not passing judgment one way or another on it, that is just the way it was. Heck, I drive a 2014 model year Ford, and I got that in June, and it was built in the first week of May!

John, they are NOT my stick figures! They are the work of a bored adult!

Also note: the sales order (as opposed to the invoice) dated March 2 has a delete radio of -$40.00.  So my uncle must have pondered that, but eventually kept it in.

Curious coincidence, the town the dealer was in--Glen Cove--is the town I was born in. Rallye is still an MB dealer, but now in Roslyn, not Glen Cove.

[thelews]

I understand USA titling.  In the vintage MB market, models are usually identified by year of production.

[peterm]

Rallye used their glen cove facility for their lexus dealership and the Roslyn dealership is MB. BMW and Rolls.   Had a bad lexus experience with them and have only purchased mercedes from Helms in queens, (that would be 6 including 2 euro deliveries, and the first ml on the island in 97) 

[Jordan]

Michael, your uncle's 230SL was manufactured only 71 cars before mine.  So they were on the production line maybe a day apart, or maybe even the same day. 

[Alex D]

My father in law ordered a 230 in October 1966 while living in Switzerland, and was upgraded to a 250, took delivery in March 1967, Serial Number 614.  Have papers to prove it.

[Jordan]

Alex, so what was the VIN?  Was it actually a 230SL or 250SL?  Last digits of my VIN are 18613 but it is a 230SL, made in mid October 1966.

[rmmchl]

My 1967 250 SL  was made in the fall of 1966, but delivered in March 1967, and delivered as a 1967 250SL.  Of course it was indeed a 1967 250sl with the newer engine, and  the correct badges.  Serial number 113 043 12 000 938----------------- The Mercedes factory installed a very unique red circular plastic ring,  that says (EMERGENCY) around the emergency flasher. I think they only did this for about 6 months.   Michael. do you remember if your uncle's car had the red emergency ring, as I have described?

[mdsalemi]

Michael, no I have very little recollection of that 230SL...just the sound of it pulling in the driveway. That car crashed and was replaced with the 280SL I now have.

[Benz Dr.]

I think my car was titled as a '67 but I had it changed to '66 because that's what it really is. Back then they titled the car in the year it was sold. My '56 190SL was titled as a '58.

There is some overlap of production between 230, 250 and 280SL's - not much compared to regular years of production but there is some.

[66andBlue]

---------------- The Mercedes factory installed a very unique red circular plastic ring,  that says (EMERGENCY) around the emergency flasher. I think they only did this for about 6 months.  ...

Michael R,
that decal was also installed in 230SL cars as soon as the emergency flasher became a requirement.
Here is the one in my 230SL - built in June 1966 and sold on Jan. 5, 1967 in San Francisco.

[KevinC]

Same "Emergency" label on my car. November 1966 production 230SL

[rmmchl]

Alfred-thank you so much for sharing your picture of the "emergency ring"-The lettering had worn pretty bad on mine.  Also, they have been known to be  very fragile and can crack easily.  From what I understand , they are not available anymore. Dr. Benz found one for me, in one of his "stash" boxes that he never throws away. Yours looks new. In fact, Alfred, I have never seen one with the lettering, as nice as yours-Thanks for sharing

[Alex D]

Jordan,

My is a 250SL, and was made sometime between Nov 1966 and March 1967.   The original purchase order was sumitted in October 1966 and by the time the paperwork got to the production floor, the they were all ready making 250's.   I have a letter stating this.  Also, I just checked mine has the red emergency label.   I go to Niagra 2-3 times a year, next time I go, I would like to see  your car.

[Jordan]

Alex, PM me the next time you are headed this way.

Alfred, can I assume these switches were for NA cars only?  Mine does not have a switch at all, let alone an "emergency" label.

[KevinC]

Alex,

Via your VIN you can narrow down the production of your car to the month and year...

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/USModelYear

Kevin

[66andBlue]

Alfred, can I assume these switches were for NA cars only?  Mine does not have a switch at all, let alone an "emergency" label.

Marcus,
I believe your assumption is correct, only USA 230SL/250SL cars had this particular emergency flasher switch with the circular label. Perhaps Achim knows better.

[relbhcb]

Via your VIN you can narrow down the production of your car to the month and year...

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/USModelYear

That's very interesting - I hadn't found that table. Mind you, my Data Card has 21 JUN 196(4?) stamped on it, and yet that table suggests that it was made in July 1964 (serial #005088). Perhaps that stamped date is when it was started, not completed?

[66andBlue]

It might be useful for this discussion to read again the information in the wiki:
US Model Year
Before 1967, the Model Year for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the US was usually the date of the first registration, independent of the serial number (VIN). Motor Vehicle Agencies in individual states may have registered them with a different Model Year after July 1 or after September 1, mostly since this was the practice for American cars with annual sheetmetal changes.
To make the Registration & Licensing of these cars easier and consistent, several states in the US required since 1966, first time for Model Year 1967, that the manufacturers send them an annual letter officially informing them of the serial number cutoff for the next Model Year. ....
and so on: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/USModelYear

[Benz Dr.]

Same "Emergency" label on my car. November 1966 production 230SL

Ah, but it's not quite the same. Have another look and see.