Rear license plate mounting

[Tom230sl]

Can anyone help me out on this.

I've mostly rebodied my 230SL and need help locating the rear license mounting hardware. Since the rear outer panel was replaced (and discarded 10 years ago) I need to reinstall the proper hardware for the rear plate. I'll need to give my shop some reference/measurements. I've attached a photo of MBZ Classic Center 230 that shows two recessed nuts. Anyone know if there is a difference for Euro vs US? what size is the nut? And most important, how far down are they from the trunk lip?

THANKS

Download Attachment: rear1.jpg
47.57 KB

Download Attachment: rear2.jpg
65.07 KB

[rwmastel]

There's a close-up picture of a rear mounting plate in this eBay auction.  Anyone familiar with this mounting plate?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6338&item=4554196950&rd=1

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[gugel]

quote:Originally posted by Tom230sl

Anyone know if there is a difference for Euro vs US?

There must be.  On my 65 Euro 230SL, there are just two holes through the back panel, not even equidistant from the center of the car, and too far apart to fit under a US plate.  I have every reason to believe these holes are original.

For driving, I mount the US plate on a bar that extends beyond the sides of the plate, and for shows I have a thinner, wider European plate.

Chris Earnest

[n/a]

Guys:

Does anyone have any information on this topic?  I just replaced my outer rear panel and also need to mount a rear U.S. license plate.  Was a factory bracket used?  I recall my old panel just had two small holes that were spaced the same as the holes on the top of the license plate.  A simlpe nut and bolt were used on each side - and the plate was just hung from the two top holes.  I do not remember any holes in the rear panel for the bottom license plate holes.  The license was centered on the rear panel.  Is this correct?  Does anyone know if the holes were made at the factory or when the car was delivered to the original buyer.  Any imput would be very helpful to me.

Thank You,
Richard - Chicago, Illinois
1964 230SL

[dldubois]

I've just got two holes in the rear panel which fit the top two holes of a US plate.   The plate is centered in the middle of the panel and the bottom of the plate is just above the ridge in the panel.   It's original and I've just got a generic bolts and nuts which are accessed through the trunk access panels.

Dana DuBois

1969 280sl auto
blue (906)
Corinth, TX