I agree with John, it’s 1970. So for discussion, a Pagoda comes off production line in July 1970 set for European market, and right behind it is a Pagoda set for US market, both came off production line the same day, in Europe the Pagoda is classified as a 1970, however because it takes so long to reach the American market, and as the American car manufacturers do as a market strategy and as a advertising gimmick, they want to call October the new start date for next years models on sale ( in this case 1971). So if the Pagoda did not make it American showrooms until after October first, then they are going to title it a 1971 model. Dealers do not want inventory of last years models on their lots for too long after October first, because they have to discount them. Do you think they want to discount a newly imported SL? In the 70s the American system of selling cars was much different then in Europe, where model changes were not every year. I think that is why MBs became so popular here in US was you could drive their cars for years and they were still the current model. So your neighbor should think you had a “new” MB. Back then the mind set of American car consumers was I need to trade in every three years (banks would have loaned only for three years, so when car was paid for, let’s trade). In Europe the European cars were respected, well cared for, and thus a European family would keep the car ten years or more. New ball game now, with leasing and loans out to seven years, and the new car/truck prices it’s a mixed bag.
