Grill Badges

[rwmastel]

Here's one that I don't think has been talked about much.  Grill badges.  I signed up to be on an e-mail list some time ago for www.germancarbadges.com and I just got a Holiday Specials message.

Has anyone ever purchased from this vendor?  Do any of you have badges on your grills?  I think these are meant more for grills like on the 280SEL, 300SEL, and other sedans of the 1950's and 1960's.

What do you think?

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

[n/a]

Rodd,
When I lived in Europe these were popular, particularly with the Mercedes Veterans clubs. For the SL's people would fabricate a bar on which to mount the badges. I made one that mounted to the bumper via the existing holes for the license and ran above the plate.

Regards,
Stan

[rwmastel]

Great idea, Stan.  I didn't think the black grill fins on our cars would hold these.  Even if they did, they would be hard to see in the recessed area of the grill.  I'll look for photos on the internet of this setup with the special bar and see if I would want to deal with it.  My Euro car looks so "clean" with the one piece headlights and no bumper guards that I may not want to clutter it.

Thanks,

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

[Douglas]

Rodd, I collect these badges, but have not installed them on my Pagoda. I have seen them on other Pagodas, though typically in Europe.  My approach has been to collect badges that match the year and original locale of my car.

Olson actually shows a Pagoda with a grill badge on the cover of one of his earlier copies of "Collecting the Mercedes-Benz SL." The badge is mounted next to the star in the recessed grill area.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[rwmastel]

Doug,

Where do you get the badges?  From on-line vendors like this one, from catalogs/mail-order, from automotive swap meets, or some other source?

What do you do with your collection?  Do you display it when you show your car?

Thanks,

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

[Douglas]

I've gotten mine from ebay and plan to have them mounted & framed at some point. As  you can imagine, the older ones are generally more interesting.

They can be pretty pricey, so you may want to think twice before you put them on a car and expose them to the elements as well as possible thieves or vandals.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[Douglas]

Here's a fairly long, adjustable badge bar on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42606&item=2443944511


Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[n/a]

I bought my badge on eBay and I used the mounting kit that came with the badge. I installed it inside the grille area and looks great on the car. I mounted the GAAC badge.

Christian

66 230 SL
Black 040/RedInterior 122
113 042 12 014 243

[113gray]

Hi- Grill badges are fun. I have bought a few from this vendor & he has been Ok to work with. Some items are pricey however. I think the badges work best on vertical grills, but are nice on 223's if there is a good badge bar. I would love to have a bar, but have not found a source. Will try to attach a pic of my ponton's grill & my 108 also has a few badges. -JP- Later, sorry, image transfer attempt failed!