convertible top frame

[John LemMon]

Believe it or not, I am restoring a Pagoda and purchased carpet, seat covers and convertible top and discovered that the convertible top frame is missing !  Any body near California have any help or suggestions.  Appreciated in advance.
John

[Garry]

John,


There are a few different places that will sell them and they are all going to be expensive. Try SL Tech (Gernolds) who is probably the guru of the soft top frames and getting it right but a bit far away for you.  Make sure you get several prices as there will be considerable differences.  They occasionally come up on eBay but you are still looking in the $3-4k mark.

[Anthony]

I have new frames available, reproduction.

[114015]

John,
As Garry already mentioned.
Separate used soft-tops are hard to come by, and if so they have become very pricey lately.
A couple of 1000s of $$ are necessary for a usable complete soft-top with all parts:
chrome, handles, rails, etc.

Worth to look and shop around.

The reason is that quite many Pagodas were delivered from the factory without soft top but only with hardtop. Still these cars had (an empty) softtop compartment
but without softtop. These cars are indicated by their code 41/5 (or 415 - call it how you like) on the data card
and are clearly distinguishable from (how we call them) the so-called "Californias" (Code 41/7 or 417) which also only had the hardtop less soft top but also no softtop compartment but instead the rear bench.
Very very many of these 41/5-delivered cars received later-on during their life-time a softtop then, and not always a new one (A113 770 0401).

That's why there has always been 'a run' on separte donor-cars' softtops. 
 
The problem is that uhem ... (previous poster's) aftermarket softtop is not only hilariously expensive, it is also missing all these chrome parts and rubber mounting rails - too expensive (IMHO). 

Better look for a decent used soft top.


Good luck!

[Anthony]

The problem is that uhem ... (previous poster's) aftermarket softtop is not only hilariously expensive, it is also missing all these chrome parts and rubber mounting rails - too expensive (IMHO). 

Better look for a decent used soft top.


Good luck!

Achim,

Just want to clarify that these frames are incredibly expensive to manufacture and are made in low volume productions of 25 frames a year which reflects the price they are sold at.

If I check a 113 VIN through PartsLink the last OEM price it shows me is 8.925 EUR + tax.
So the repro frames are actually offered 40% cheaper.

That said if you don't have any softtop parts or an old top to begin with it will turn out into a very expensive job.

[teahead]

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=29512.0;topicseen

[TJMart]

Gernold’s start at 10k!!

[teahead]

https://palmbeachclassics.com/shop/mercedes-benz-parts/w113/soft-top-frame/

[Chris_ATL]

Yikes....

Seems like i bought a softtop and got the rest of the car for free...