Data Code 415 - Coupe-Dach ohne Roadster-Verdec ( no Soft Top )

[Benz280]

On my recently purchased 280SL, ( W/ Soft-top ) the data card shows 415 - No Soft top, it has one and looking like factory installed ( with proper stow label on inside of boot ).
Was this ever a dealer installed option ?
   

[JamesL]

With all respect, it's not difficult to search the forum for answers before asking. Particularly as it's a current thread.
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=30051.0

[Benz280]

JamesL, despite the fact that my question was not completely answered on the thread, the question still remains re dealer installed soft top when purchasing car as new. 

 

[MikeSimon]

If, with "dealer installed option" you mean one ordered the car without the soft-top and before one takes delivery from the dealer, they install the soft-top, I cannot find any reference to that in any contemporary or later literature. So, I would say no, it was not. I would think, however, anybody who had a soft-top installed after the fact, had it done at a dealership.

[66andBlue]

The car was ordered new as a "Roadster", meaning it came with 2 seats and 2 doors and folding top ("soft top").
Then one could add to the order a Coupédach ("hard top"), or a Coupédach but eliminate the folding top at a price reduction for the hard top.
Another option was the "California-Ausstattung -Ausführung", that is, a roaster without the folding top and without its compartment and lid. All of this had to be done when the car was ordered.
However, it was possible later and still today (I believe for about Euro 9,000) to order a complete folding top as a repair item which then was/is installed by the dealer.
I am attaching the price information from the Engelen book in German and also a "salesman's price data card" that was handed out in the USA to show how this was handled.
{Typo corrected Nov-25}
 

[pj]

Where did all the soft top frames that were later added to the 415 cars come from? All from wrecked cars that left the factory with them? Or did the factory make extra soft top frames later that were sold separately? Or did someone in the aftermarket manufacture them?

[66andBlue]

Where did all the soft top frames that were later added to the 415 cars come from?

Peter,
my car has code 415 and the PO installed a softtop that, however, never worked as he told me. I sent it to Gernold and even he could not provide a permanent fix. So on Gernold's advice I bought a used 230SL frame because in his words, "those never fail". That is what I have now in the car.

All from wrecked cars that left the factory with them?

Impossible to answer.

Or did the factory make extra soft top frames later that were sold separately?

Of course, the factory had an extra supply on hand that were sold. I believe you can still buy one today from Mercedes.

Or did someone in the aftermarket manufacture them?

One of the member vendors here sells reproductions:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=29702.msg215110#msg215110

[MikeSimon]

I don't think the exact words "California Ausstattung" were used. For one thing, in German the word for the US state is spelled "Kalifornia". The only thing I ever saw for this version was "Coupé" as opposed to "Roadster"

[66andBlue]

Mike,
I corrected my typo, Engelen wrote Ausführung not Ausstattung. Otherwise I have no doubts whatsoever that his text is correct. He had access to Daimler Board meeting minutes and other documents when he researched his book. I hope you bought one my now and are familiar with its details. 

[MikeSimon]

Alfred: I am still not convinced that Daimler Benz used that exact terminology for the Coupé, even if the "Pope" of all Pagoda trivia wrote so. After all, the version was offered everywhere, not just for "Kalifornien". But it doesn't really matter.

[john.mancini]

My 69 280SL was a 41/5 car. Also, there was no soft top color listed on the data card. However, when the original owner, (whom I bought the car from), took delivery of the new car from the dealership, it had a blue soft top. He claims it was on the car from day one. I never found out if he ordered the car himself or if it was on the showroom floor and possibly the dealer installed the soft top prior to sale. It was an original MB soft top.

[badali]

My car had 050 050 5 on the data plate.  It came with a hard top but no soft top and has the soft top compartment.  I added the soft top 10 years ago when I bought the car...

[114015]

On any 41/5 car the softtop could have been retrofitted anytime later.
There was a separate and complete ( !! ) softtop assembly including chrome, rubber strips and softtop canvas available in the old days - just for these (41/5) cars to retrofit a softtop where there was none before... 



-----

Yikes....! 

John
1968 280SL 906 Blue 4-speed
1969 280SL 906 Blue automatic
1970 280SL 904 Blue automatic
1970 280SL 571 Red automatic
1970 280SL 040 Black 4-speed
1966 230SL 162 Grey/Blue automatic
1968 280SL 568 Red 4-speed
1969 280SL 304 Horizon Blue automatic

John...!
Have you got eight Pagodas....? Really, seriously?
All at the same time, i.e. now .... and not one after the other?? 

Are you a dealer...? Not?

Yikes,
I know quite a bunch of Pagoda aficionados who have got two,
some crazy guys even three ...
... but     E-I-G-H-T  ??

Wow...!

And they all run? 

Do you have a pic of all of the Pagodas together??   
Or do you have each of them at a different  of your numerous holiday resorts??

At least .... - Chapeaux !!

Achim

[114015]

Here (attached) you can see that a separate - and complete (!) softtop assembly
was available from the factory

- in order to retrofit 41/5 cars with a softtop
or
- to replace a bad or bent softtop where necessary.

Parts number was A113 770 0401

today NLA.

I checked the price when the (naked) softtop frames were still available.
I think the last price for this complete assembly was about 10'000 German Marks ... quite a couple of years (decades) ago.
 
It surely wasn't that expensive in the old days...
I remember I bought my first (used) softtop back in 1988.
The Gentleman who sold that one to me got a new one for his 280 - just a complete softtop with canvas, new.
Must have been this A113 770 0401. And he did not pay hilarious money for that one before.

So, they must have been affordable in the old (sixties) days...

Those were the days ....

Achim

[john.mancini]

Hi Achim,

The most W113's I've had together is 3! Down to one now. Not a dealer, just have the collector car virus. I like finding unrestored, original cars and trucks. I also have a 1956 Ford F100 pickup that I bought from the original owner with 29,000 documented miles. Unrestored!

[MikeSimon]

John, I was diagnosed with the same infection. The symptoms I was suffering from were severe space limitations and chronic shortage of liquid funds. The therapist I was seeing could not offer any direct remedy but suggested I should direct my activities toward smaller vehicles requiring less support expenses and storage needs. I started "collecting" motorcycles. This really did help for a while and I was able to reduce the number of collector cars to three. But now I am up to 16 motorcycles and the same ailments as before start showing up again.....

[RobSirg]

You really are a sick bunch......you need help!

 

[Garry]

Don’t you talk Rob, I know what you’ve got in the shed.

[Mike Hughes]

Yep, it looks like a bunch of us have got it bad...

'37 M.G. TA
'51 M.G. TD
'51 M.G. TD
'54 M.G. TF
'56 Dodge V8 Pickup
'66 230SL
'66 MGB GT
'67 MGB
'86 300D
'87 XJ6 VDP
'89 Merkur XR4Ti

[bogeyman]

Well, I've stuck to the marque...but the same illness.

'69 280SL
'70 280SL
'72 350SL
'87 560SL
'87 300TDT
'93 500E
'95 E320 Cabrio
'07 E320 Bluetec
'11 E550 4Matic

[Garry]

I found an easy solution to the problem, or should i say my wife suggested one. 


 i said i m going to ship my car to the other side of the world, drive around for three or four months and the Minister of Finance said it’s all to be paid for by selling off some of the cars to pay for the trip. One even sold whilst i was away.


Helped me down size by three.  No more old VW’s and nearly enough room in the garage.

[john.mancini]

Did not list my "Non" MB marque cars and trucks. My doctor didn't cure me, but he performed a multi-garagectomy which limits my capacity to add to my addiction by a factor of 8. Painful.