Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => W11x chassis cars => Topic started by: Garry on September 12, 2020, 08:40:00

Title: W111’s and others put together in Australia i the 50’s and 60’s
Post by: Garry on September 12, 2020, 08:40:00

Saw this interesting bit of history for W 11x fans and others on Mercedes Benz builds outside Germany.  This is the list of production built in Melbourne Australia.

Title: Re: W111’s and others put together in Australia i the 50’s and 60’s
Post by: ja17 on September 12, 2020, 16:09:55

Interesting.  Years ago 1980, I read that Mercedes-Benz had a small assembly line in Mexico, (late 1950s). Mostly sedans were assembled from parts shipped from Germany. Most interesting some rare collector models 190SLs, some 300 cabs etc. and one 300SL roadster were actually assembled there. Being young and adventurous back then, a friend and myself headed to Mexico City in quest of the lost and forgotten treasure. After two weeks of poking searching around we actually found the man who had all the parts left over from the original Mercedes-Benz assembly line in the attic of his warehouse. I remember first viewing all the shinny new chrome parts in the dimly lit warehouse. Bundles of new 300SL rocker chrome, new 300 cabrolet chrome landau hinges, sets of new ponton cab. trim still in natural brass, crates and shelves full of new extinct parts. We made a deal and shipped back five large crates of rare parts with us on the airplane.

Title: Re: W111’s and others put together in Australia i the 50’s and 60’s
Post by: wwheeler on September 12, 2020, 16:49:04

Wow, that is interesting. I am especially surprised that W128 220SE cars were built there. I would assume this was a sedan and not the coupe or cab. Those two doors were mostly hand built and would be surprised they would farm that out for such meager production numbers. Amazing.

Joe, unbelievable story. Who knew!   

Title: Re: W111’s and others put together in Australia i the 50’s and 60’s
Post by: Garry on September 13, 2020, 07:08:10

No coupes or cabriolet we’re assembled in Melbourne,  All those models were imported.


Garry

Title: Re: W111’s and others put together in Australia i the 50’s and 60’s
Post by: stickandrudderman on September 21, 2020, 18:16:34

Presumably this is to avoid import duty. "Built in Australia".
I visited a small museum in New Zealand las t year where I learned that there were similar arrangements there.

Title: Re: W111’s and others put together in Australia i the 50’s and 60’s
Post by: cfm65@me.com on September 21, 2020, 19:38:37

Hi Guys,
It might be of interest to the group, Mercedes have been assembling cars in South Africa for the past 71 years. I believe, presently, most of the RHD C class cars are assembled in South Africa and shipped all over the right hand drive world.
I don’t think any of the Cabrios or Sls were ever assembled here.
Regards
Chris

Title: Re: W111’s and others put together in Australia i the 50’s and 60’s
Post by: mclewis on September 21, 2020, 21:53:47

My wife’s LHD 2020 C300 was built in South Africa.