Curious about Datacards

[waltklatt]

I got my datacard from the MB classic center and see that while my car is a US version model, it has the dealer code from a London dealer(5xx).
Is this possible that the original owner walked into a dealer in London and ordered a US version SL to be delivered to the US and this would be reflected on the datacard?
Or does anyone have any other idea?
Also on the 3rd line I have a #5 at the end, rather than the US #7.

Walter

[Garry]

Walter,


My car is what is known as a “ Tourist Delivery” meaning that it was ordered from a dealer in Sydney to Australian specs and delivered to the buyer in Germany direct from the factory.  They then used it for a holiday in Europe on temp plates and returned it to the factory for delivery to Australia.


I suspect that is what you have in a similar fashion, that is, the original owner, knowing that he was going to take it home, ordered it in London to US specs and took delivery either in London or Germany then at some future time shipped it to the USA.


A bit like the US military stationed in Germany could order one to US specs, take delivery in Germany then take it home at the end of their tour of duty there..


Garry

[Jordan]

Walter, why do you think it is a US version car?  The 5 indicates it was destined for somewhere in Europe, outside Germany.  London would certainly fit that bill. 

[114015]

Walter....,

Difficult to say withouth more information here...

It "could" theoretically be possible that your car was ordered (and delivered...) in GB (London or so), that's why the 5xx dealer code.
But nevertheless, your car is not supposed to be a GB version because LHD.... Correct? So maybe ordered by a GI for US destination .... or so? 


It would be easier if we can see your datacard (you can blind out your serial numbers) and your dataplate.
Do you have the option codes 46/1 and 49/1 (or 49/3) for US-version ?
Instead, a UK car would have printed the 622 code on the datacard.


Best,
Achim
(with 113042 10 2 on data plate)

[doitwright]

The 1965 220SE coupe I had last year showed the car was ordered by the original owner in Paris, France through a US dealer. An acknowledgment letter from Daimler and Codes on the data card confirmed this. Other documents that came with the car also showed that the delivering dealer in Chicago added an emergency flasher and seat belt prior to releasing the car to the buyer. I was curious why this could not have been done in Germany since the add-ons were definitely not Mercedes Parts. Probably a recent US requirement that Germany was not prepared to install.

[neelyrc]

My car is what is known as a “ Tourist Delivery” meaning that it was ordered from a dealer in Sydney to Australian specs and delivered to the buyer in Germany direct from the factory.  They then used it for a holiday in Europe on temp plates and returned it to the factory for delivery to Australia.

My car was ordered in USA for Factory or Tourist delivery.  The 707 in the Auftrags-Nr and on the confirmation of order designate this.

[waltklatt]

Thanks to all who replied.
I do have the US option 49/1 checked.
order number is 65371753, meaning dealer code 537.
The reason for the US model is that the car was picked up brand new from a Mercedes dealer in Virginia, USA
Found another car that was 4 cars in front of mine, also from the same dealer in Va, but with a 7XX dealer code.
They were among the same batch of new delivery cars to the Va dealer.

So my question is, did the first owner stop at a London dealer and order a new car and have it be delivered straight to the Va dealer?  Not a European delivery car.

Thanks,
Walter

[Aaron h]

My car was ordered in USA for Factory or Tourist delivery.  The 707 in the Auftrags-Nr and on the confirmation of order designate this.

Ralph, I REALLY like the color combination of your car......dark olive body and hard top, parchment leather with dark brown multi loop carpeting, lacquered paper board, and entrance rail sill mats, Becker Grand Prix mono radio, AND with a dark green canvas soft top!  How much better could it be?!  Nice! 

[114015]

So my question is, did the first owner stop at a London dealer and order a new car and have it be delivered straight to the Va dealer?  Not a European delivery car.
Thanks,
Walter

Dear Walter,
Yes, that is what I would guess. On the other side, what else could the scenario had been?
The European dealer code "tells me" the car was ordered there (in London, UK?) but delivered to the final destination of the customer, which is Virginia.

The only odd thing ... how was the documentation proceeded after finally prining the data card at the factory?? Some documentation or "piece of paper" must have told "your car" and your datacard to be delivered to the VA dealer instead of the "537" dealer...

Very interesting....!
How do you know your car was delivered to this particular VA dealer, from the maintenance booklet?

Very interesting!

Keep us informed, please.

Best,
Achim

[neelyrc]

Achim, perhaps the codes in the order number were all the factory needed to send the car to the Virginia dealer.  As you can see in my Confirmation of Order in my post #5 above, the Auftrags-Nr was assigned at the time the order was confirmed and this then went onto the data card with the ordered option codes before the factory started to build the car. I believe the data card was the tool that controlled the overall manufacture and delivery. 

[neelyrc]

Ralph, I REALLY like the color combination of your car......dark olive body and hard top, parchment leather with dark brown multi loop carpeting, lacquered paper board, and entrance rail sill mats, Becker Grand Prix mono radio, AND with a dark green canvas soft top!  How much better could it be?!  Nice!

Thank you Aaron!
These finishes go quite well together as a package. In my view the contrast between the dark olive and the parchment leather provides the real zing.

[Garry]

Here is my example of a Data Card for Tourist Delivery.

[Aaron h]

Here is my example of a Data Card for Tourist Delivery.

Garry, I don't think I've ever seen a 230SL so optioned out as the one you have.  Becker Grand Prix mono, Reims shortwave adapter, automatic electric antenna, rear kinder seat, garnish moldings on hard top, white wall tires, two tone blue paint scheme with a matching blue top, subsequent installation of BEHR air conditioning, and heat absorbing glass......what a gem you have! 

[Garry]

Thanks Aaron,


There are a couple of items missing from the original build.  The radio has been changed in the early 70’s to a Becker with tape deck, I took the Air conditioning out as I was a bit concerned with the 230 and the stress on the crank shaft. Other than that it is prety much original.


On Wednesday Mercedes Bens here in Melb as part of their Formula 1 Grand Prix that is on this weekend are doing a photo shoot with the car then they are putting it in as a display in one of their VIP areas for the four days.