Automatic Badge on Deck Lid

[Douglas]

I know it was a factory option to delete the "automatic" plate, but why are so many automatic SLs unlabeled as automatic on the trunk? Surely they weren't all ordered  unbadged.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[A Dalton]

Probably got debadged down the line by susequent owners..
 I always thought it was a little too much info on the trunk and a distraction of the lines..
 ..but for the sake of originality, I can see why some want them there..
 just not me..and maybe others

 Another possible is that because many 113s have seen at least one repaint,
 it  is concievable that is when the badge got dumped ?

[hauser]

There was something even worse than the extra badging back then.  I'm not sure when this practice was started but the selling dealer would put an additional badge on the trunk lid of the car.  This badge was a way to advertise where the car was purchased.  In a way  it was sort of like branding cattle.  They would drill holes to hold their plaques in place.  This practice is still used today only that in most cases they are secured with adhesive.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[TA250SL]

I agree it's a detail that seems unnecessary today, but when I see it on my car or others it's another pleasant reminder that this is a car of another era and not of today's streamlined and stripped-of-detail school of automotive design.  I also agree about those dealer tags.  Thankfully, California car dealers have been using custom license plate frames instead for many years.  

Tom

 

[hauser]

When we purchased our family hauler a Honda Odyssey the dealer put a self adhesive chromed plastic advertisement on it[!].  I told them in advance not to put it on there and they did it anyway[:0].  I immediately took it off.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[Malc]

The old girl has nothing but the star on the boot lid. I suspect the 230 badge may of disappeared when she was repainted sometime in the past, can't decide if I like it or not. Some modern cars look better de-badged than others...

Speaking of dealer badges. A few years ago a mate went to buy an MGB GT from a garage. When he went to collect it they had drilled holes in the tailgate and added one of the ugliest dealer badges I have ever seen

He demanded his money back as he refused to accept damaged goods, even had to threaten them with court to get his money back. He eventually bought the same type of car at another dealer

two months later this garage stopped adding it's own badges......

Malc

[Ed Cave]

Seems like I remember reading somewhere that the 'AUTOMATIC' badge was only installed on European delivery cars with A/T. Equally unattractive, in my opinion, is the '230sl' '250sl' or 280sl' badge, as normally seen on the boot lid, applied to the dash. I know this was more common in the earlier days, seems to be more of a Euro thing and is often seen on the 300sl as well; may have in fact been the norm for that car.

Does anyone know if the factory ever applied these badges to the Pagoda dash?

Dealer insignias are the worst. I have never allowed one to be applied to a car I have purchased.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL

[Bob G ✝︎]

Classic Center still list the badges for the 230SL & 280SL and the automatic plate that goes below. Strange that 250SL is unlisted though showen in the parts listing .

Bob Geco

[Klaus]

The "Automatic" badge was started with 230SL ...7205 on Oct.23, 1964 to promote the marketing of the automatic transmission. Once the automatic transmission was installed in about half of the cars built, it was deleted by the factory. The ending number is not in "Engelen".
It was an option to delete the model designation on the trunk lid, but that was mostly done on models that came in various designations, i.e. you had a 200 Diesel without a badge someone might think you have a 280E.
In the inside, the model badge was on the cover that closed the radio opening. If you ordered the car with a radio, or installed one later, you didn't have the badge.

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[A Dalton]

<<Strange that 250SL is unlisted though showen in thje parts listing .
>>

 They are NLA  . no longer available
 The 250 was the shortest production number run, so parts pertaining to that model only are becoming non-existant..
 I saw a 250sl trunk badge  on ebay a while back bring close to $100...

[230SL67]

I think Klaus' explanation makes sense.  My `67 230SL is an automatic, doesn't have the badge delete code on the data card, was US delivery and has never had the automatic badge.  When I bought the car in 1997 it had the original paint with no body work evident to fill holes in the lid.  Besides, the 230SL badge would also have to be moved since it would be too high without the automatic badge.

Chris

[LFrank]

Well then, knowing that it is somewhat exclusive to earlier 113s, I feel a little bit better about my "AUTOMATIC" badge of shame...

LFrank
Washington DC
65 230 sl - auto
DB334/Hellblau

[J. Huber]

Well, a couple things. My 1963 has the 230SL badge on one side of the trunk, the automatic badge on the other. In addition, there is a 230SL badge on the glovebox. It is smaller than the one on the trunk -- so my guess is it was the radio plate badge. My car was delivered in November 1963 sans radio.

And I must respectfully disagree with a those who see any of these badges as shameful. Mine is a 230SL, an automatic, and shines a little brighter because of its added chrome -- I wouldn't change any of it!

James
63 230SL

[rwmastel]

My 230 SL was produced at the end of September, 1966, and it has the Automatic badge below the 230 SL badge.  It's a Euro version.

I believe I've been told that in the European market (car culture) an Automatic was a true luxury.  Few people in the 1950's and 1960's spent the money for them regardless of car brand or model.  I would bet the badge showed up on most Euro Automatics and not on many USA Automatics.  I can't speak for other global markets.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[hands_aus]

The 'Automatic' sign is below the 250SL on my 1967 Sydney delivered car.

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto