Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: n/a on March 22, 2006, 20:25:24
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I've got a 1968 250 SL with only 58,000 miles. All original except for the paint. I hear this model is rather rare and few were manufactured... especially during 1968. One website I saw said only two were made in 1968. That sounds pretty improbable, but I'd like to know how to research my own car. I have title and VIN of course.
Can anyone help me with this question?
Dale Roberts
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Click on the Pagoda SL Group blue block at the top left, then go to databases, the first entry is for production month, with the month of production listed by the last 6 digits of the VIN. Good luck.
Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto
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Hi Dale,
I have a '68 250SL as well. Keep in mind that the 1968 model year for Mercedes started in July 1967 (when my car was manufactured). Although it is the rarest model, the value of a 250SL isn't higher as a result of it (lags behind the 280SL). But it is a great car, as all SL Mercedes are! Good luck.
Best Regards,
J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
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I also have a "68" 250SL, So now we have acounted for 3 of the only 2 made. :D My car is titled as a 1968 but was made in Nov. of 67. Check the tag located in the door jam for a build date.
Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe
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Another one here.
Mike C.
Aberdeen MD
Dark Green/Cognac/4speed
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quote:
Originally posted by Dale Roberts
I've got a 1968 250 SL with only 58,000 miles. All original except for the paint. I hear this model is rather rare and few were manufactured... especially during 1968. One website I saw said only two were made in 1968. That sounds pretty improbable, but I'd like to know how to research my own car. I have title and VIN of course.
Can anyone help me with this question?
Dale Roberts
DR
The 250 was a 1967 production run designated chassis 113.043 [ aside from a few in 12/66 and 2 in 1/68]
However , there was a mid-year production change , mostly on the trim parts [ steering ring/square-weave/basket weave/window handles/door pockets etc..]
This was at 7/67 date and the serial #'s at the change are 2979/2980.
The first run is referred to as "Early 250" and has most of the appointments of the earlier .042/230 series. The remaining run are referred to as 1968/Late 250 and are more like the appointments of the 280/.044..
You will find this serial number useful when ordering parts , as there are quite a few differences.
SLS site has this info, so you may want to reference there..
http://www.sls-hh-catalogue.de/bin/dbframes.phtml?mid=IN02
I always liked the Early/Euro .043 version, but they are all cool....
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For the United States, Model Year 1968 started with VIN 113043-..-002982.
The last 250 SL had VIN 113043-..-005196.
The US sales of the 250 SL were 33.54% of total (John Olsen "The SL Experience")
This means, approximately 743 US Model Year 1968 250 SL vehicles were sold in the US.
Of these, 255 were sold in Calender Year 1967, and 488 in Calender Year 1968 (Olsen).
Production on the assembly line ended in December 1967, and a few cars of these only left Sindelfingen in 1968.
Klaus
1969 280 SL
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All 250SLs have square weave carpet, along with rubber floor mats! [:(!]
The USA 1968 also has a different injector pump than the 1967 model (adding a fuel shut off solenoid); side reflectors on fenders and quarter panels; dual compartment master cylinder (probably an international change); different heater control knobs and elimination of blower switch light.
I may think of some more later.
Best Regards,
J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
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More at 2980.......
>>Interior door handle, lock, window crank changed (the 1967 250SL had the same door hardware as the 230SL; the 1968 250SL had the same door hardware as the 280SL.
Sunvisor mounting changed
Shape of horn ring changed again
Form of rear view and side view mirrors changed
Side reflectors added to fenders
Chrome discontinued on windshield wipers, horn ring, rear view mirror and door strikers
Face of ignition lock changed from convex to concave
Control knobs flattened
Steering wheel hub made collapsible, shape changed
Dash top padding rounded
Injection pump control shaft changed
Brake fluid level warning device added to master cylinder
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FWIW, my '68 280, serial number 000176, was constructed in November 1967. Probably came over on the same ship as Halleck's
The VIN tag inside the door jamb does not have a place for the manufacture date. The owner's manual says 250SL.
Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe
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That really helps in dating mine as my VIN ends in 3044, soon after the change-over to the newer version. Mine is in storage for the winter and I won't be getting it out for another month or so so I can't go look at all the little differences mentioned in the various replies. Can't wait for the weather to break so I can get it back out!
quote:
Originally posted by A Dalton
quote:
Originally posted by Dale Roberts
I've got a 1968 250 SL with only 58,000 miles. All original except for the paint. I hear this model is rather rare and few were manufactured... especially during 1968. One website I saw said only two were made in 1968. That sounds pretty improbable, but I'd like to know how to research my own car. I have title and VIN of course.
Can anyone help me with this question?
Dale Roberts
DR
The 250 was a 1967 production run designated chassis 113.043 [ aside from a few in 12/66 and 2 in 1/68]
However , there was a mid-year production change , mostly on the trim parts [ steering ring/square-weave/basket weave/window handles/door pockets etc..]
This was at 7/67 date and the serial #'s at the change are 2979/2980.
The first run is referred to as "Early 250" and has most of the appointments of the earlier .042/230 series. The remaining run are referred to as 1968/Late 250 and are more like the appointments of the 280/.044..
You will find this serial number useful when ordering parts , as there are quite a few differences.
SLS site has this info, so you may want to reference there..
http://www.sls-hh-catalogue.de/bin/dbframes.phtml?mid=IN02
I always liked the Early/Euro .043 version, but they are all cool....
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Touche'!
quote:
Now of course I realize the stupidity of my question about there being only 2 made in 1968, but I'm amazed and fascinated by the depth of knowledge about these cars from people on this site. I wish I knew more about mine. I've been told the original owner was a lady in Chicago's Gold Coast who kept it as a summer toy for more than 30 years before selling it to a young couple who actually traded it in for a minivan! A friend of mine bought it, had it a few years and sold it to me. At 38 years old, the clock still works. The radio isn't worth squat, but I can tell you what time it is. I've got that funky automatic with park on the bottom and no first gear on the indicator. I believe I'm also still on the original convertible top. I'm having a hard time justifying replacing it since I take off the pagoda when it comes home for the summer and only take out when the weather is really nice, so the convertible stop is stored 99% of the time as it is. I've also been told that the white "ivory" steering wheel was special for some reason but I'll be darned if I know why.
Thanks for all the feedback.
Dale ROriginally posted by norton
I also have a "68" 250SL, So now we have acounted for 3 of the only 2 made. :D My car is titled as a 1968 but was made in Nov. of 67. Check the tag located in the door jam for a build date.
Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe
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Hello, Dale.
I have a 250, also. Love the car. Last 4 digits of my VIN are 4802, and it's totally in the
ballpark for a late 250. All the stuff listed here is spec on the car... black steering wheel,
side lights, etc. This probably doesn't add any info, but just supports historical perspectives. I'm at the other end of the mileage thing... heading into 681,000 at this
point. Has been a bit of a challenge over the years to keep it authentic. Many people who
work on the car try to change it.... I've been quite militant!!! Except for paint. Just had it
done in 906.. it's looking good.
Yours sounds wonderful!!
Daryl
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The 250SL is rare in that it lasted only one year before the introduction of the 280SL. There are two versions really of the 250SL one carries over the same interior trim and door panels as the late 230SL and the later 250SL which has the same interior as the early 280SLs.
The fuel injection pump differs in that it still has a red cap to add oil to the fuel injection system.
knobs are still the same as the early 230SL but the radio plate now excepts thestandard size becker radios.
It was also the first yearfor introduction of the ZF five speed transmission and limited slip differental.
the later 250SLs also had made the change to the bigger gas tank and transformation of the spare tire to the right side facing up ward and flat. I am not sure but I beleive the levers were still clear color coded forthe ventelation and heating. later 250SLs used a one peice pressed hubcap like the 280SL.
Production must of changed in the mist of April 1968 as my father ordered a 250SL and was informed by the factory he was getting a 280SL. serial number 1130440012001906.
Bob Geco
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Dsomusic wrote: "I'm at the other end of the mileage thing... heading into 681,000 at this point." [:0][:0][:0][:0][:0][:0][:0][:0][:0][:0]
YOU NEED TO WRITE AN ARTICLE!!!
Best Regards,
J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
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Hello, J.P.
I guess I figure that there's not a lot to say. When something breaks, it gets fixed. Driving
it is the fun. I'll work on a short article. Digital camera is in my future.. that might help.
Thanks for the interest!
Daryl