What is wrong with this picture

[Garry]

Here is a photo of a 280SL Pagoda on display at an All European Car Show today.  It did really well and won the overall best car in show

Look closely at it and list the things incorrect in the photo. There are a couple but a cigar for the person finding the funny error.

Garry

[mbzse]

Well, putting the blue sticker for the Brake booster onto the forward part of the valve cover is certainly a candidate... ;-)
/Hans in Sweden


THE PRIZE TO HANS

[Baybear]

Well the steering wheel is on the wrong side for starters. and those seat belt buckles.
Will

NO STEERING WHEEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE   YEP THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BUCKLES

[Rodolfo]

you can't let the passenger drive the car, in my opinion.

RIGHT SIDE WRONG SIDE, NUP, RIGHT SIDE.

[kampala]

White Steering Wheel with Black Gear-shift Knob  CORRECT

Radiator expansion tank -- weren't these always black?  CORRECT

What about the "Daimler" window sticker on the hardtop side window?  ALMOST THE ANSWER

What's that black hose running from left side over the engine valve cover near the oil filler and to the right side?  INTERESTING ONE, I DONT KNOW THE ANSWER

[jameshoward]

Not the buckle release buttons, Garry? (Please say no, as I have the same issue on my car...).

ITS A SECRET JAMES IN FEAR YOU MAY KILL ME

[mbzse]

.../...What's that black hose running from left side over the engine valve cover near the oil filler and to the right side?

Yes Oz that´s an interesting one. Hose runs from the water entrance for the passenger compartment heater and - to where? They must have come up with some creative place to hook the end of that hose up to, he he  
/Hans in Sweden

HANS, IT MIGHT BE LIKE HIS LABELS, HE JUST DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO PUT IT

[mbzse]

.../.. Radiator expansion tank -- weren't these always black?

On later 280SL, they switched to an off-white plastic type. Introduced step by step during late 1970. Serial No 20 458 and gradually onwards, then from 22 306 in November fitted to all cars.
/Hans in Sweden
.

A BIT MORE KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL OF US

[Khurram Darugar]

Missing door grab handles.....  

A RHD CAR SO ONLY ON THE LEFT PASSENGER SIDE

[Norm]

It has the earlier hard map pockets instead of the soft ones.

Norm

THIS IS AN AUSTRALIAN/EURO CAR SO CORRECT POCKETS

[bogeyman]

Seat belt buckles reversed   CORRECT
Windshield sticker from later cars on hardtop quarter window   NEARLY THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR A CIGAR
No rubber bumpers on hood torsion rod  CORRECT, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM MUSELF
No rubber bumpers on top of firewall  CORRECT
White steering wheel/black shift knob  CORRECT
Carpet grommet around shifter s/b black rubber
Door pull missing  RHD CAR ONLY ON LH SIDE
Black rubber hose to nowhere??  CORRECT
Rearview mirror support s/b black CORRECT
No snaps in carpet??  UNCERTAIN OF THE CORRECT ANSWER
Rubber faced A pillar seal??  CORRECT IF THERE IS NO MATERIAL ON THE RUBBER.

[Jonny B]

If a Euro version, the door pockets would still be the "hard pocket” type   CORRECT ITS AN AUSTRALIAN DELIVERED CAR
The door pull was not on the drivers door, only the passenger door; that is how it is configured on my early 250 SL  CORRECT
The small rubber hose on the overflow of the expansion tank, lots of folks (me included) put one there, but that was not on the original  CORRECT

Thought the support for the rearview mirror was satin finish? Some were black?  CORRECT

As others, indeed curious about the "black rubber hose to nowhere”  YA GOTTA PUT IT SOMEWHERE

[49er]

Fan shroud and rubber "blocks" on hood torsion bar missing.  CORRECT ON RUBBER BLOCKS.  WERE ALL 280’S FITTED WITH THE SHROUD?

John

[pdc]

Wong door trim,

is from late 250 but without the door handle or - pull  NO THIS IS AN AUSTRALIAN CAR SO EURO SPECS.

Reading the other comments there seems quite a lot incorrect, I wonder how well the people who give points know all the details of these different cars.  THATS THE PROBLEM WITH COMPETITIONS.  NO ONE KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS.

[mbzse]

Fan shroud.../... missing.

Fan shrouds were only fitted on Pagoda of the US model (with A/C)
/Hans in Sweden
.

[mbzse]

If a Euro version.../... Thought the support for the rearview mirror was satin finish? Some were black?

Satin stem for the inner rear view mirror was on the US type Pagoda cars only (together with steering wheel horn ring, wiper arms etc.) Black stem for the inner rear view mirror was for 70's M-B, like W123 and perhaps late W114/115 Compact cars (and is what you get today, if you order a mirror from M-B Classic).
/Hans in Sweden

[Garry]

Most of those items listed I agree with and I have commented on each post but Hans gets the cigar.

This car won the MB Concourse last year as well.  What does that tell you about judging and all the judges went to judging school

The funny error was that the owner threw lots of money at the car and then purchased one of the generic sets of labels. Not knowing where they went, and not being a member of this Group and at least asking, proceeded to put all of them including all the 190SL ones all over the engine bay ‘and the side window’ and anywhere he thought they looked good. I have never seen so many lables on a car. This closer photo has three in it alone. The cam/rocker cover had four different stickers on it including the Brake Booster sticker!!!!!    

Garry

[49er]

Fan shrouds were only fitted on Pagoda of the US model (with A/C)
/Hans in Sweden
.

 No AC on mine but does have the shroud. Surprised to hear the euro models did not have the shroud as it seems it would be of benefit no matter where the car was driven?

John

[Garry]

I also thought it was a 'hot weather' delivery location that had them, was it an option Hans?

Garry

[mbzse]

I also thought it was a 'hot weather' delivery location that had them, was it an option Hans?

There may well be more to find out (here) about this matter. I have never seen a Euro car that has one, only on US imports over here. It may be, MBNA liked for the shroud to be fitted and it was included in the SA for US delivery (on all W113, not just cars with A/C). Or, they were fitted by the dealers in the US(?).
I agree they would be useful in all hot climates!
I am sure we shall find out more about this
/Hans in Sweden

[mnahon]

I beg to differ on the coolant expansion tank being wrong. If it's a late model (70-71), many of these were fitted with a white plastic expansion tank; not the black brass tank.

[Garry]

Meyer,

You may be correct. I am not sure exactly what year 280SL it was but thought it was at least 1970.

[66andBlue]

This car won the MB Concourse last year as well.  What does that tell you about judging and all the judges went to judging school

It tells you that more than one judge learned how to judge!   

[waltklatt]

Not sure how others see it, but to me a common nuisance is the window winder handle positions.
When both windows open, the handles are pointing in different positions.  Ugh,  good restoration would point them in same position.
Another is the red light for the door open, I don't see the light on.

Walter

[Flyair]

Garry,
Many thanks for this entertaining and funny exercise.

I am sure many readers of these posts rushed to their garages to check how those details were done in their cars

Thankfully, most if not all issues can be addressed and corrected quite easily, should you choose to pile up all the comments and past on to the owner. But maybe even better would be to pass them to those judges (who should be grateful for providing them some education)