Mercedes chrome wheel well trim ..

[wingding@frys.com]

I notice this chrome wheel well trim on some mecedes.. and it's not a factory option...Where do you get it? This seems to be very thick.

[114015]

 

For the contemporary cars, only the 300 SE (sedan and coupés/cabs) had wheel well trim, very fine/thin ones but none of the other MB cars...

Or, with other words, this is heavily non-original to the Pagodas at all.

It's just "pimp-my-car" stuff greatly reducing the W113's value on the market.

IMHO: forget about it.

[Jonny B]

Don't forget the other contemporary car with wheel well trim - the 600.

[mbzse]

Don't forget the other contemporary car with wheel well trim - the 600

W100 (600), this together with the W107 are the Mercedes with the longest production time (17-18 years) 

[cfm65@me.com]

Also the 220S Coupe and Cabrio.

[wwheeler]

Here you go. This is my other SE coupe. Lots of wheel trim!

[mbzse]

Also the 220S Coupe and Cabrio.

Ahh, well, we're sort of moving away from "contemporary with the W113" (into the 50's)

[MikeSimon]

My car has it and it had it when I bought it in 1982. While I know it is not original, I think it is a contemporary (speak 1960s/1970s) aftermarket accessory and legitimate to use and have. There were and still are a lot of aftermarket accessories for any car and I think it is somewhat narrowminded to dismiss all of them, just because the factories were/are too stingy to put them on. It has always been a strategy for any manufacturer to leave it to dealers to add accessories and thus allowing them to increase their profit margin. If you dive into this and look deep, you may find stuff that is aftermarket and desirable and actually INCREASES the value of an older classic or vintage (my apologies to Dan Caron) car.

[wwheeler]

Ahh, well, we're sort of moving away from "contemporary with the W113" (into the 50's)

I guess I was just wanting to show earlier origins of the design.

[wwheeler]

just because the factories were/are too stingy to put them on. It has always been a strategy for any manufacturer to leave it to dealers to add accessories and thus allowing them to increase their profit margin.

My opinion is that Mercedes was creating distance between the models so that the upper price range models had more visible bling. More chrome, more bling and a higher perceived level of luxury and desirability.

[MikeSimon]

I admit, one could object to having additional chrome "bling" on the SL. After all, "SL" stands for Sport Leicht - Sport Light  - and the car was intended to be a sportier model. It had aluminum doors and hoods to save weight. Amy addition as heavy as additional chrome decoration could be frowned upon.
On the bottom line, however, it should be about what you personally like on your car. Unless you want to sell it and build one for maximum return, where absolute originality counts, it doesn't really matter what the value is.
My wife and I like genuine oriental rugs in our house. We have quite a few. There is always the discussion how much they are worth and that they go up in price. Frankly, I don't give a hoot about that particular issue. I like the looks and the fact that they are truly handmade and always a conversation piece. My heirs can argue about the value.

[hauser]

The Pagoda at the MB Museum has them. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=W113+at+the+mercedes+museum&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS751US751&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwip-Kjmk97lAhUOLKwKHRYtCQMQ_AUIFCgD&biw=1024&bih=526#imgrc=IOeuy5CtJsY5RM:

[JamesL]

I've always thought that odd. But that's me

[Benz Dr.]

W100 (600), this together with the W107 are the Mercedes with the longest production time (17-18 years) 

We had one damaged one on the 600 we did four years ago. Price was about $3,500.00 at that time. We figured out a way to fix it after we heard the price.

General consensus is that someone is trying to hide some sort of damage on an SL and it's best to stay away from anything with wheel opening trim.

[wwheeler]

That is a good point Dan. My W111 had the repro wheel well trim when I bought it. And sure enough, there was fender damage on the lip lurking below.