Author Topic: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim  (Read 5802 times)

rutger kohler

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • New Zealand, Auckland, Auckland
  • Posts: 505
Hi, some time ago I said I would explain why my RHD 280SL has original North Americam style headlights but European trim.  I have finally got the history of the car together in the attached PDF
1969 280 SL Manual gear shift
1972 280SE 3.5 auto

kampala

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Hermosa Beach
  • Posts: 1211
Re: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2013, 05:32:22 »
Rutger,

Very nice read and pretty amazing that it came full-circle. 
250sl - later - manual
280sl - 1971 - Auto - LSD

Aslam

Garry

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Australia, Victoria, Kyneton and Brisbane Queensland
  • Posts: 5186
  • Audit Committee
Re: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2013, 06:43:06 »
Great story Rutger, wish I could get the fill story on mine, which like yours was a tourist delivery in Germany for a Sydney buyer.  I really like that green and Bamboo interior, same as my '69 280SL was.

Garry
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Warsaw
  • Posts: 1920
Re: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2013, 07:04:30 »
Rutger,

How fortunate that you were able to track down the history of your Pagoda. I especially liked the passage about Paris, where the first owners camped in a tent having their Pagoda aside. Not many Pagoda owners would take that risk today ;)
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

gerster

  • Guest
Re: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2013, 11:42:52 »
What a terrific history I wish that I could find out what was happened with my car in his years, I have an Adress in North Carolina of a Vietnamese who had the car in around 2006 so maybe I could write them what they know about it.

Bonnyboy

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, BC, North Vancouver
  • Posts: 893
  • 1969 280sl Euro 4sp LSD
Re: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2013, 14:39:21 »
Wonderful story, I expect that this is just the middle of the saga with many more years to go.   Absolutely love the colour combination.

One question - what is the filter media for the fresh air scuttle to the cabin?  Is there a filter in there somewhere?

Ian
69 280SL
65 F-100
73 CB750K
75 MGB
78 FLH
82 CB750SC
83 VF 1100C
94 FLHTCU
08 NPS50
12 Pro 4X

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4126
Re: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2013, 14:42:43 »
What a great story, thanks for sharing this. Especially cool to get the photo with the original owners.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

rutger kohler

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • New Zealand, Auckland, Auckland
  • Posts: 505
Re: Why my car RHD has North American headlights but European trim
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2013, 19:57:29 »
Hi there, thanks for all the kind comments, yes we are lucky.  The fresh air scuttle does have filter media down inside it.  It is a matter of taking the outside cover off (there are screws in the back too that hold onto the scuttle body by slots.  these are removed through the front of the scuttle cover one the chrome grille is removed. There are two screws on the sides too.  Once the scuttle cover is removed the vent is opened to it's widest from inside the car using the fresh air lever.  I then removed the vent from the lever and then you can reach down inside and remove the filter. I removed the filter media off the wire frame by drilling out the rivets and then when I replace the media I used pop rivets with washers to refix. I got the filter media from a HVAC gut that servied industrial air con units.
1969 280 SL Manual gear shift
1972 280SE 3.5 auto