Interference suppression less radio set..?

[MRB43]

I just received the Classic Mercedes-Benz Certificate from Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC for my 1970 280 SL.  The Specifications document lists the car at time of delivery as having an Option 53/3 Interference suppression less radio set.  Does anyone have information as to what this option was ?  Also....were Power Brakes an option in 1970 on the 280 SL?  Mine shows Option 42/6 Power Steering and automatic transmission - but no Power Brakes.

[114015]

Yes...

I've got an idea about that.
This was very regularily ordered for (e.g.) Germany-delivered cars. It means everything prepared for the addtion of a radio but without the radio itself.
This 53/3 contained the interference suppression kit (i.e. electrical background noise suppression), best seen on the spark plug conectors with their metallic sheath or the additional condensors on the generator, etc. Furthermore, the speaker and the antenna (always) on the right front fender was already in place.

Only the radio was missing (the beloved radio deletion plate in place).
Becker radios were expensive at that time; around 480 - 580 German Marks (probably equivalent to 1500 - 2000 $$ today), so, many prospective buyers preferred aftermarket radios, especially Blaupunkt, which were way much cheaper than Becker.

US-delivered cars were mostly delivered with Beckerradios in place - from what I understand.

All pagodas have power brakes, it means the brake booster - which was still not so common on cheaper cars, at least not on the lighter Volkswagens, Fords, etc.

42/6 means power steering and automatic transmission with tunnel mounted shift lever.
Pagodas always had tunnel mounted shifters; column-mounted shifting (like on my 114 sedan) was not an option for the W113.
42/2 means power steering and manual gear change and 42/- means no power steering  :'( :'(

Best,
Achim
(data card freak)

[john.mancini]

My Horizon Blue 69 280SL also has "interference suppression less radio" (533). The car does have a factory antenna and speaker, AND the beautiful radio delete cover plate. The original owner had the dealer install a Becker Stereo after delivery. I am tempted to remove the radio and re-install the cover plate. I've always liked the look of the cover plate and having satellite radio in my daily driver, I can't take the static of the Becker any longer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John

[hauser]

How cool would it be to have a hinged radio delete plate hiding a modern radio?

[114015]

How cool would it be to have a hinged radio delete plate hiding a modern radio?

Yes Hauser,

That is possible.
One member of the German SL Club Pagode did that about 20 years ago.
He got a self-cut thick new solid aluminum "deletion plate" (in order to save and un-touch the original one), put his original 250 SL dash sign on, fabricated some sort of simple hinge with a spring-loaded mechanism and stored a (weird) Pioneer radio behind it in the duct.
(IMHO that Pioneer was not "hip" enough - even for those days; there were far better units available, e.g. a late style Becker )

Quite some tinkering but it is possible.
Me personally, I like the look of the pre-1968 Beckerradios with their lower face plate and angular chrome surround and their concave push buttons so dearly that I probably have to leave the nice factory deletion plate in my display cabinet.

John,
If your radio makes bad noise (static - if I understood that correctly) I highly recommend to get it repaired at Beckerautosound.com (or equivalent shops).
It makes a huuuuuge difference to have only a few of these transistors, condensators or so replaced in the almost 40 year old unit. Will cost you only little money and the radio will be fine again.

Best,
Achim

[john.mancini]

Thanks Achim.
John

[Garry]

Achim,

I like that idea of the blanking plate and modern radio behind. 
Have just tried to put two radios together, mine that was not working but with a really good face and another that Naj brought over from UK to the Euro tour for me that I brought back to Oz but but unfortunately neither now works.  I was going to give up and just put the good faced radio back in the hole but the blanking plate trick is a good solution. 

Did they make a small 280SL badge to fit?

Garry

[66andBlue]

Did they make a small 280SL badge to fit?

Yes Garry, they did. See: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=22069439422
Do you have the plate and need the badge only?

[Garry]

I will need plate and badge, you dont have one do you Alfred???  Looks like that one has gone already.

Garry

[66andBlue]

Garry,
sorry I don't have one but the listing appeared again: 220694394228
The seller is one of the members here.