speedo body question

[erickmarciano]

when my euro 280sl came to the USA 8 years ago , the owner replaced the km/h gauge with a mph one . since the car is now in Canada I found a use KMH one to use in my car . the body of the MPH one is like rubber and the KPH one is metal with is correct?
also when I look at the back of the speedos the whole for the cable on the mph is to the right and the KPH is to the left , with is the correct one?
thanks
Erick

1971 280sl
1962 VW
1954 Allstate vespa
1958 gs150 vespa
1962 gs160 vespa

[Cees Klumper]

The case as far as I know is sort of a metal "skeleton" (i.e. not fully enclosed but more bracket-like) that is covered with a rubbery cover that does enclose the whole back of the instrument. I have not seen a full metal cover before. Since the instrument is located on the right hand side (on a left-hand drive car) I would imagine that the connection for the cable would be on the left side, when looking at the instrument from the front/face side.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[jeffc280sl]

Your in luck.  Just took mine out last night.  The MPH version has the soft rubber like rear cover with the cable hole facing to the right as you look at the back of the speedo.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[n/a]

Erick,

I do have a MPH and KPH gauge for a 280SL (LHD) and both do have the connection for the cable on the right hand side, seen from the back of the speedometer. I have both gauges out of the car, if you like to see a picture I can take one. Both do have also the rubber jacket.  
I do believe your connection on the left looks like for a right hand drive(RHD)car.

Lajos Damen
1969 280SL

[erickmarciano]

thanks Damen , I guess I have I have a rhd version ,but why would it be in KPH? and has anyone seen a metal body not rubber?
thansk

1971 280sl
1962 VW
1954 Allstate vespa
1958 gs150 vespa
1962 gs160 vespa

[Benz Dr.]

Early cars all have metal back covers. Somewhere in '65 they were changed. 190SL's are all metal. I think the tach is LH or RH drive.

Daniel G Caron