strange metal object in the boot.

[Paul99]

I have always wondered what this is for and why its there.  Its located in the boot (trunk) of my 1966 230.  What is it for does anyone know please?  Its part of the body, not added later but during production.

[Pawel66]

This is the anchoring point for the luggage strap.

Search "luggage strap" or alike - lots of hits, e.g. https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=10040.msg67490#msg67490

[Paul99]

Ah, so that's what its for.   Clever, although I don't have the strap so couldn't work out what it was for.

You learn something every day!

Many thanks 

[Benz280]

Wow, have always wondered also.
Amazing how even in early design, now let's see how we can secure the luggage.   

[WRe]

Hi,
see here.
...WRe

[Tomnistuff]

Are the above photos of original correct luggage straps?

If so, thank you so much for the excellent photos.  When I was restoring my 230SL, I found those brackets in the trunk but no luggage straps.  Having never seen one, I measured the clips and made my own to match my upholstery and my Pierre Cardin 1960s antique-shop luggage (see the photos).  Out of ignorance and unwillingness to pay the price for original luggage, that's the best I could do.  Now that I have seen what appear to be original straps, I'll modify my straps to be "correct".  I have luggage rivets from a previous job, and my straps are several inches too long anyway.  I'll chuck up the 1/4 inch diameter pins that I made from a ratchet wrench extension and file the belt groove in them then recut and rivet the belts to match the originals.

In my opinion, the above photos (not mine) should go in the TM to demonstrate something that's apparently not in any documentation that I've previously seen.

Thanks again.

Tom Kizer

[Pawel66]

Tom, the one on the picture in the link I provided in my post is original.
Browse the forum and Google, there are more pictures there.