quote:
Originally posted by Ann
1970 280 SL Euro, automatic, both tops.
Euro headlights, small round yellow front marker lights on front fenders. Silver body & hardtop. Black interior- original.
vin 113.044-12-001700
426 620
180G 180G 6
113044 12 5
00451 81380
hood # 1380
Also there is a number *280 SL/8* under the vin # does this have any significance beyond the model #?
113.044-12-001700 - 280SL Left Hand Drive Automatic, produced March 1968
426 - Power Steering with Automatic Transmission
620 - Unknown code
180G 180G - both Body and Hardtop Silver Gray, Glasurit paint
6 - unknown
113044 - 280SL
12 - Automatic, Left Hand Drive
5 - European Delivery outside Germany
00451 - Production Number
81380 - Body Number
You mention that your car is a 1970, but the serial number is for a very early 1968 model. Perhaps somewhere in the prior ownership chain it was reregistered when the owner changed countries in 1970 and that date just stayed with it?
The 620 code is interesting. The 5 indicates it was originally delivered in Europe. In addition, your car has the small round side marker/turn signal repeaters that were unique to the Italian market. That code would usually be 617 (or 619). Code 621 would be for deleting the rear license plate chrome molding. Perhaps 620 is Italian market side marker and amber turn signal lamps AND deleting the rear chrome molding? Does your car have a 1 1/2 - 2 inch high slightly rounded chrome strip at the bottom of the recessed area between the bumpers that is be mostly covered up by your California license plate?
Your hood and soft top compartment lid should be stamped either 380 or 1380 on the underside edge near the driver's side if they are original to the car.
The /8 signifies the new sedan body introduced for 1968 that used some of the same engines that were also used in the older model "Finback" sedans still available at the time. The new squared-off sedan is commonly referred to as a "Stroke Eight." So a 230 Finback sedan would simply be called a 230, but a "new" 230 sedan would be a 230/8. For some reason the /8 designation was also applied for a while to the 280SL just introduced at about the same time. All the more reason to believe that your SL is actually a 1968 model.
A data card might clear up some of the mystery. I think that you would have to get it from M-B in Germany though. The MBUSA data cards only cover U.S. delivered vehicles, if I remember correctly.
- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)
