Author Topic: How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart  (Read 3984 times)

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart
« on: August 03, 2013, 14:54:44 »
What are the chances of this happening, I meet Michael last weekend at the Concours d' Elegance in Plymouth MI. Peter (PJ) ask me if I registered my car in the forum yet? I did not so this week I registered my car in the Forum Car Registry.

To my amazement I noted that Michael's car rolled off the Assembly Line only 3 cars behind mine. My VIN number ends with 259 and Michael's with 262.

Have you checked your closest VIN Number Forum Member?
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

Via Manci

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Re: How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2013, 20:34:09 »
And how am I able to do that?

Cees Klumper

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Re: How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2013, 20:52:29 »
Click on the home page tab, then look under content, the registry will be one of the headings.

The closest VIN number to mine seems to be some 80 cars away.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

Flyair

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Re: How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2013, 22:39:15 »
My Pagoda's VIN number appears to be the second highest one on the list, some 44 cars from the latest VIN. Both came from the last month production in February 1971. The Card shows that mine was registered in April 1971.
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

mdsalemi

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Re: How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2013, 14:29:18 »
What might be interesting is what happened to the cars, Rolf, after manufacture?  Mine went to the USA, destined for Rallye Motors on Long Island, New York.  Presumably sold there, it ended up just 6 months later on the used car lot at a Simca Dealer outside Philadelphia. When my Uncle bought it, ironically it ended up back on Long Island, where Rallye was the only local dealer at that time.

Where did yours first go?
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
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2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2013, 20:26:48 »
Hi Michael,

I prepared this summary for my records from available documents on my car.


Date of Manufacture: (Assumed) December 1968 (perhaps more will show on the data card once I order one from the Classic Centre).

First Owner / Date of Sale: Naples, Florida USA 10-7-69
(date as embossed on data plate [credit card size card] that is part of service manual).

Second Owner: Collier, Florida 10-18-86 (Date of sale on notarized bill of sale).

The Third Owner: Imported the car from Florida USA and registered on 02-02-90 in Ontario Canada by a well known Restoration and Auction Company. (date from Ontario License registration). I will investigate what and when resturation work was done.

Forth Owner: London, Ontario Canada 03-03-90 when milage of the original odometer was 64,627 Miles the odometer was replaced (service records show needle fluctuation).

Fifth Owner: London, Ontario Canada 12-09-92 (date from Bill of Sale) to car collector and business man, he purchased the car for his wife at the aforementioned date. She returned the car to her husband sometime in the spring of 2008. the car then was stored in a air conditioned and heated garage along with 50s and 60s american reconditioned cars until I found the car and finally purchased her in May 2013.

This makes Yours truly the Sixth Owner, London Ontario Canada May 21, 2013

Past Service Record (as I noted in MB service booklet) this also tells us where the car lived.

Inspection D @ 6,224 Miles July 23, 1970 - Ft Nigess Florida USA
Inspection C @ 9,000 Miles Date not known - Naples Florida USA
Inspection E @ 12,000 Miles Date not known - Ft Nigess Florida USA Inspection C @ 15,000 Miles Date not known - Naples Florida USA 
Inspection D @ 18,000 Miles Date not known - Ft Myers Florida USA
Inspection E @ 24,000 Miles Date not known - Ft Myers Florida USA 
Inspection E @ 48,244 Miles April 23, 1981 - Ft Myers Florida USA 

Canada Safety Inspection @ 63,835 Miles at Restoration facility March 3, 1990 - I will try to find out what was done here at some later date.

Odometer Changed @ 64,627 Miles (I have the original odometer). However, one never knows if it passed 100K and started again. The new odometer showed 4,400 miles when I got the car in May this year.

The last owner (had 2 injectors changed and a brake job done). Prior to that the car was in Kingston, Ontario (1992 to 2008). Not much maintenance was done as far as I can tell.
I had the Safety Inspection done @ 64,627 (original odometer) + 4,400 Miles on the new odometer in London, Ontario on May 21, 2013.

Since then Benz Dr. has made some throttle adjustments and will do some more tomorrow :)

I’m sure Michael when the 2 cars will meet they have stories to tell one another as to all the exciting places they have seen :) Perhaps we can catch and overhear some of them Pagoda Car Whispers (if there is such a thing).

You asked where I first went. Well first I drove her home some 12 miles. Then several trips to St. Thomas, On. followed by 2 extended trips to car shows "Legend of the Autobahn" and another one was to a Mercedes Benz yearly gathering near Kitchener, Ontario (Known as Berlin before the war).
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

mdsalemi

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Re: How incredible is this? Only 3 VIN numbers apart
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2013, 21:11:29 »
That's more detailed information than I have!  However I can tell you from information here, and on the data card I had/have somewhere that the cars were made in January, 1969.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid