Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items => Topic started by: gstorek on May 29, 2025, 19:54:16

Title: Detirmining Originality of a 1971 280SL
Post by: gstorek on May 29, 2025, 19:54:16

Can anyone tell me the best methods for determining if our 1971 280SL has its original paint, body and engine?  Thanks!

Title: Re: Detirmining Originality of a 1971 280SL
Post by: Lori on May 29, 2025, 20:04:06

Have a look here:
https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Originality/Start

And for some of the info, you will need the data card:
https://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/Start

Title: Re: Detirmining Originality of a 1971 280SL
Post by: Bonnyboy on May 29, 2025, 22:05:39

A visit to an automobile restorer or even a good body shop would probably be a good start after you go through the links posted by Lori and check by numbers.  There is equipment that a modern body shop should have that will tell you the thickness of the paint and a good painter will be able to identify they type of paint on your car to see if its original. 

A good bodyman can restore a car to the point where its hard to tell to the average person if its original or not but they can tell.

Many cars in that era had replacement engines (rather than a rebuilt) which isn't a bad thing if the engine checks out to be the right one.   

Title: Re: Detirmining Originality of a 1971 280SL
Post by: gstorek on May 30, 2025, 16:42:34

Thank you!

Title: Re: Detirmining Originality of a 1971 280SL
Post by: gstorek on May 30, 2025, 16:43:03

Thank you!

Title: Re: Detirmining Originality of a 1971 280SL
Post by: thelews on May 30, 2025, 20:53:12

https://motoringinvestments.com/mercedes-280sl-w113-buyers-guide/