Where on hardtop is the body number?

[FastWgn]

All - quick question - where exactly is the body number stamped on the hardtop?
Mine is covered with a scratch preventing self adhesive felt on the bottom and hence I can't easily find it. This felt was likely attached during the renovation done by prior owner.
Before I remove the entire thing, would be good to know WHERE to look.

Thanks!

[JamesL]

For completeness, let’s do all of them

Hardtop...
Hood/bonnet: Trailing edge of the inside. Mine is toward the “top left” corner when looking from the bonnet release. And so is under body colour paint
Soft top well lid: .... and so is in the satin black/graphite paint. Location?
Gearbox cover plate:....

Begging the question... not on the boot/trunk lid, why not?

[FastWgn]

For completeness, let’s do all of them

Hardtop...
Hood/bonnet: Trailing edge of the inside. Mine is toward the “top left” corner when looking from the bonnet release. And so is under body colour paint
Soft top well lid: .... and so is in the satin black/graphite paint. Location?
Gearbox cover plate:....

Begging the question... not on the boot/trunk lid, why not?

Not sure if you are asking me that question - but I do have the (matching) numbers underneath the hood and the soft top cover.

[JamesL]

No, I’m trying to make sure all the locations are documented in detail, in one thread. Broad locations (hood, hardtop etc) are in the Tech Manual but that can be updated if we codify definitively...

Mine look like they were hand stamped as they are not in a straight line

And while we’re here, am I right on saying the body number was also handwritten on the reverse of some of the leather/tex trim in chalk/ crayon, as well as  crayon on inside of panels, under seats, on the back of the glove compartment, behind a headlamp etc.??

[FastWgn]

I see.

On the hood - my stamp is:
drivers side rear corner, stamped "right way up", that is you can read it easily when hood is open.
Soft top lid: drivers side at very forward edge, facing inward (top of numbers towards center of car)
Gearbox cover plate: Rear end facing forward.

[GM]

If I recall correctly (my hardtop is sleeping in a cover on the rack) my number was to the left of center on your photo (in the rack)

[FastWgn]

If I recall correctly (my hardtop is sleeping in a cover on the rack) my number was to the left of center on your photo (in the rack)

Thank you.

[FastWgn]

If I recall correctly (my hardtop is sleeping in a cover on the rack) my number was to the left of center on your photo (in the rack)

Hmm, didn't really find it there...

[MikeSimon]

If your hardtop was added later and did not come from the factory with the car, it may not have a number

[Iconic]

FastWgn,
Your data plate under your hood has the code to tell you if your car came with a hard top.
Have you checked that?
Enjoy !
Mark

[FastWgn]

If your hardtop was added later and did not come from the factory with the car, it may not have a number

Aha - so if it did not come with a hardtop three will be NO number on the hardtop? I thought it would have some other number in that case.

[GM]

Or the very real possibility that my recall for the location was incorrect...

[JamesL]

Just saw a portion of my hardtop for the first time in an age!

Here is the back bottom edge and it’s to the right of the centreline when on the car (which I think is the hole on the right of the picture). This portion sits on top of the soft top well.

My body number is 482

Anyone any idea what the other numbers are or mean?? 802 ? 5558??


So... a matching numbers car I’ve always taken to be chassis and drivetrain. Arguably as important would be the body numbers, particularly the hood/bonnet as a replacement might indicate an accident...

[Iconic]

Mine is in the same depression as as your numbers that look to be crossed off.
Maybe the factory decided to change which car your hard top goes on .....   
See my picture.
Mark

[kampala]

On both my 250 and 280, the stamping is just about 2 inches off center - towards passenger side on a LHD.  Look for the rubber plug and go over 2 inches.

[66andBlue]

....
Anyone any idea what the other numbers are or mean?? 802 ? 5558??
So... a matching numbers car I’ve always taken to be chassis and drivetrain. Arguably as important would be the body numbers, particularly the hood/bonnet as a replacement might indicate an accident...

James,
the body number is stamped twice on the hardtop but you need to strip it completely to find it. It is on the bottom of the side frame, I believe on the passenger side but could also be the driver side, I have forgotten. Attached is a photo.
Would be interesting to know whether you have the same mystery number also in that location.

[FastWgn]

Thank you all - you guys are super helpful. Carefully pried away the felt in that location and BAM - there is was.
And, the number matches my car.

[VincentR]

Hi All,

Here enclosed on picture of my Hard Top matching position number on my 280sl 1970.

Have a nice day !

Best regards.
Vincent R
France.

[mbzse]

.../... am I right on saying the body number was also handwritten on the reverse of some of the leather/tex trim in chalk/ crayon, as well as  crayon on inside of panels, under seats, on the back of the glove compartment, behind a headlamp etc.?

Not at all. What you write about, is the Production Number.
This as well as the stamped in Aufbau Number (body No) are independent in relation to the cars Chassis No.

Last part of Production No is in crayon on inside of interior panels, under seats, on the back of the glove compartment etc.
Last part of Body No is stamped in hood, soft top cover, HardTop if supplied and on 12-bolt big metal plate under car.

Attached see an example of Production No scribbled on the back of a lower dash panel

[JamesL]

For completeness, let’s do all of them

Hardtop...
Hood/bonnet: Trailing edge of the inside. Mine is toward the “top left” corner when looking from the bonnet release. And so is under body colour paint
Soft top well lid: .... and so is in the satin black/graphite paint. Location?
Gearbox cover plate:....

Begging the question... not on the boot/trunk lid, why not?

So we are 100% sure that the body number is not on the trunk/boot lid anywhere. An oddity if so

[rwmastel]

Maybe Mercedes assumed that their brakes and their customers were superior, so if anything were to be replaced regularly, it would be trunk lids from being rear ended!   

[Pawel66]

Perhaps it has to do with the stages of body assembly? Just speculating here (we have descriptions of the painting process, I just cannot remember details now) that if the initial set up of the car body was the main body part + trunk lid + doors (which I think also do not have the number stamped) and then hood (bonnet) tops and gear box support were fitted later - that would support lack of numbers on some and presence of numbers on other parts.

On 190Sl and W113 pictures form manufacturing line I see hood (bonnet) being fitted very late in production. On other types - quite early - I wonder if they would have a number stamped on the hood.