Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: John Betsch - "SADIE" on August 29, 2023, 16:06:34
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My 230SL has a Becker Grand Prix Radio.
From the many postings and contacts I have made, the Becker Grand Prix radio seems not to be a popular choice. I see mostly the Mexico or Europa models
I am doing an informal poll to see why?
Was it the cost? Was it primarily only a Germany delivery choice? Could it have been a dealer combination offering (leather and that radio) or some other reason Anyone have ideas or an input to my conundrum?
How many other Grand Prix radio owners out there?
jb
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Is the attachment of any guidance?
I think the Grand Prix was an upgrade over the Europa.
My car came with a Blaupunkt Frankfurt, dealership installed. Into the trash it went, broken and unrepairable. I bought a restored Europa MU from Becker Autosound in NJ. However everything comes from my phone today.
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Thanks Mike. I am searching to see why, what appears to be, a minimal number of Grand Prix radios as a purchaser's choice.
My interest is the combination of options on my car: Becker Grand Prix - which as a high end option would seem to fit with the leather choice, but then picking leather and also a kinder seat? I would expect if a kinder seat, then M-B Tex as a more practical choice- an oxymoron to me.
jb
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I think the Grand Prix was an upgrade over the Europa.
Michael, the Grand Prix was an upgrade over the Europa.
It is an AM/FM signal seeking radio where you push the black bar and it finds the next station.
My car has the Grand Prix and the power antenna.
JB, Did yours come with the power antenna (531)? I've never seen the Grand Prix (519) in a Pagoda without the 531 option also.
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Iconic- no I do not have the power antenna though the radio option 516 does appear on my Data Card and "Zertikat" from the Classic Center as an original build
jb
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This may provide some help - years for Becker radios
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Gary, That document shows a picture of a Grand Prix stereo, for sure the 1970 and older had a mono Grand Prix.
JB, 516 is the code for the European Grand Prix. 519 is the Grand Prix for the USA. I only state that so that we don't confuse people.
There is no "531" on your data card? Yours is a 230 SL, so maybe that plays a role, but of the data plates and data cards that I have looked at, all that had 519 also had 531. But, clearly they were separate options.
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My Italian delivered 230SL was shipped with a Grand Prix and power antenna per ID plate & data card. My goal is to get back to that setup some day.
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…….How many other Grand Prix radio owners out there?………
I ordered my car for delivery at the factory with the Becker Grand Prix. There were other lower value radio options offered. For this high end car purchase I wanted the best radio they were offering which was the Grand Prix. The invoiced cost for the Grand Prix was USD151 and the Automatic antenna was USD49.
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To Iconic's point, it seems that my post was only for US models? Definitely not a comprehensive listing of all Becker radios.
Here's a mono Grand Prix - maybe only for Euro?
https://www.chromelondon.com/becker-grand-prix-us-wonderbar-vintageclassic-car-fm-radio-mercedes-pagoda-porsche-etype-ferrari-5977-p.asp (https://www.chromelondon.com/becker-grand-prix-us-wonderbar-vintageclassic-car-fm-radio-mercedes-pagoda-porsche-etype-ferrari-5977-p.asp)
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Further to my earlier post, here is the MB price list from October, 1970, approximately two years after I ordered my car. The Grand Prix was apparently no longer being offered. The list does specify “Partial Listing”. The Europa AM/FM Stereo had become the high end Becker offering.
Prices for cars and options had gone up considerable in USD in the two years since I had ordered.