Author Topic: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat  (Read 6341 times)

Zazozazo

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Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« on: October 17, 2021, 09:31:44 »
Good morning all,

I have an the option 565 ( Sideways Rear Seat) on a nut and bolt restoration MB 230 SL manual of 64.
Is this a desirable and rare option ?
If this was omitted in the restoration, and the footwell is still there, is it worth the hassle of reintroducing it to the car?

Thank you

Garry

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2021, 09:56:13 »
Whilst i would not call it rare, it is a quirk of the Pagoda and not something that should be left out in a restoration if it is data carded.

My 1965 230sl had one and I have made sure it was included in the interior restoration. 

Garry
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Tycoon

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2021, 04:25:31 »
I have one on my Euro ‘68. It is blast to ride in……you likely didn’t have a chance……do not remove!
Bill

Zazozazo

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2021, 09:41:50 »
Thank you Bill :-)

teahead

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2021, 20:41:14 »
I think the kinder seat is a cool option!

I bought one to put in the wife's pagoda just for the cool factor!
1970 280SL auto, AC - aka "Edelweiss"

john.mancini

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2021, 00:30:13 »
Rare? No.
Desirable? Not really.
Safe? Hell no!
John
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John Betsch - "SADIE"

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2021, 18:46:41 »
Just a quick comment about Kinder-seats:  every kinder-seat that I have seen has been on a European market car.  It seems that it might have been a very popular or maybe a "thrown-in" dealer incentive option?  Opinions?

jb
« Last Edit: October 21, 2021, 22:59:43 by John Betsch - "SADIE" »
JB; 1965 German market SL, Rot Met 571, Summary Code 213 Interior

john.mancini

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2021, 11:47:06 »
Over half of the W113's I've owned had option 565 "Kinder seat". They were all US market cars. Since the factory data card listed the option 565 it could not have been a dealer "throw in". I used to think it was a nice option, but it's very unsafe for a child to be sitting back there.
John
68 280SL 906 Blue 4-sp
69 280SL 906 Blue
70 280SL 904 Blue
70 280SL 571 Red
70 280SL 040 Black 4-sp
66 230SL 162 Blue/Grey 
68 280SL 568 Red 4-sp
69 280SL 304 Horizon Blue
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
83 911SC
98 911 cab
56 Ford F100
08 RS60
62 Corvette Fuelie
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Shvegel

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2021, 07:44:52 »
I'm with John.  I am by far not the safest person on the planet and have scars and missing digits to prove it but using the soft top compartment cover as a head restraint for a small child is a bad idea.  An adult in a rear end collision would have the full force applied to the side of their spine and neck, 

mrfatboy

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2021, 11:31:34 »
This thread just reminded me of a funny/sad childhood memory 🤣🤣

When I was 12 and sister was 10 our family had a 280SE and 280sl. We planned on going to the Rose Bowl. It’s about a 2 hour drive from San Diego.

The 280SE unexpectedly wouldn’t start that day.

My 6’6” father stuffed me in the back of the 280sl (soft top up) on the parcel shelves. My mother stuck a pillow over the center console box and wedged my sister in between the seats. The seat belts were not used. Off we went.

It was the 70’s. 🤣🤣😱😱
1969 280sl (Aug 1968 build)
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johnk

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2021, 11:44:17 »
My kinder seat also has the wooden parcel shelf. Is that common?
« Last Edit: October 24, 2021, 11:52:05 by johnk »
John Krystowski
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Atazman

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2021, 15:10:13 »
My 250 SL originally went to Italy.  It has no 565 code on the data card.....but it does have the Kinder seat along with the parcel shelf over the foot area.  Someone suggested to me the Kinder seat was a dealer added feature.  Wish I knew for sure what took place.
Don
67 250 Sl
(#3168) from Italy
5-speed/Posi/AC/Kinder

johnk

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2021, 15:31:16 »
My 250 SL originally went to Italy.  It has no 565 code on the data card.....but it does have the Kinder seat along with the parcel shelf over the foot area.  Someone suggested to me the Kinder seat was a dealer added feature.  Wish I knew for sure what took place.

Thanks Don. Mine was also an Italian car with no code on the data card (as I remember). Does your have carpet in the footwell?  Mine did not. I have pieces with my new carpet kit for the footwell but they don’t seem to fit real well.
John Krystowski
Avon Ohio
1968 Euro 280sl under restoration
2016 Jag F-Type R sold june 2021
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stickandrudderman

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #13 on: October 24, 2021, 18:30:33 »
Along with adding headrests, I happily encourage my customers to delete the child seat where fitted.
It's a ridiculously dangerous place for anyone to sit in my view.

Atazman

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2021, 16:35:26 »
Back to you, John, with your question..."does yours have carpet in the footwell"?

When I bought my Italian car in 1983 it had original carpets including the footwell.  I have since replaced the original and the new carpet kit (back in late 80's) also came with footwell pieces.
Don
67 250 Sl
(#3168) from Italy
5-speed/Posi/AC/Kinder

Merc_Girl

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #15 on: October 26, 2021, 22:04:14 »
I'm with John.  I am by far not the safest person on the planet and have scars and missing digits to prove it but using the soft top compartment cover as a head restraint for a small child is a bad idea.  An adult in a rear end collision would have the full force applied to the side of their spine and neck,

Not to mention if there was a head on accident there is a likely of meeting of heads between driver and rear seated occupant! 😱😱
If the modern version of tinker, tailor, soldier, sky, an adult is sitting in the back !!!
230SL

johnk

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #16 on: October 27, 2021, 03:10:49 »
Back to you, John, with your question..."does yours have carpet in the footwell"?

When I bought my Italian car in 1983 it had original carpets including the footwell.  I have since replaced the original and the new carpet kit (back in late 80's) also came with footwell pieces.

Thanks Don.
I carpeted my parcel shelf and will Wait for pagodafest Chicago to see how the carpet pieces should fit together in the footwell.
« Last Edit: October 27, 2021, 21:30:16 by Peter van Es »
John Krystowski
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su8pack1

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #17 on: October 29, 2021, 23:54:03 »
This guy has been riding along with me for years.
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MikeSimon

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #18 on: October 30, 2021, 15:41:58 »
Considering that all "collectable" cars' value is connected to the amount of options installed, I consider the "Kindersitz" a valuable option and I encourage everybody who has one that is shown as an option on the data card to keep it.
It is only unsafe or dangerous as long as you let someone sit in it. If you don't it is perfectly safe and increases the value of the car.
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MarkCan

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #19 on: October 30, 2021, 16:07:50 »
I have to agree on the “safety” aspect of such seat. Than the fun factor (11 on the 0-10 scale) and the memories that I got thanks to it - PRICELESS!
My uncle had that option on his W107 when I was a kid. My two cousins, my brother, his friend and myself managed to get in the back no problem. I would definitely throw in few extra bucks for those memories.

cfm65@me.com

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #20 on: October 30, 2021, 18:46:19 »
Could anyone put up a sketch or photos of the kinder seat, please.
Regards
Chris
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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #21 on: October 30, 2021, 21:11:41 »
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thomas wright

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #22 on: October 30, 2021, 23:19:52 »
Hi All,
This is an interesting topic but let's not get to excited with health and safety issues regarding the side-on rear seat. I agree with Mike S point of view that if you feel anything is unsafe on your car then don't use it, just use common sense and no one will get hurt . These seats are not just an add on conquered up by dealerships but by the design crew at MB with numerous sheets of technical drawings to high specification and singed off by the QA controller. We are custodians of these ancient old vehicles and it's our duty to preserve them as best we can and as original as the day they left the factory.

Currently my own 280SL , July 1969  is going through extensive restoration and has such a seat but I wouldn't dream of excluding in the rebuild and believe it would be sacrilege to remove its existence from the Data Card / Birth Certificate.

Tomnistuff

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #23 on: November 02, 2021, 18:45:23 »
When I bought my Italian 230SL in 1987. it had a kinder seat.  Later I reupholstered the car, including the kinder seat, in leather.  When I restored the car in 2011 - 1019, I bought parcel shelves and matching carpet and put the kinder seat parts in the trunk.  Now before each significant event, near or far, I have a decision to take. The change-over takes about 5 minutes without tools.  The Data card says Kinder Seats.  I now have either.
Tom Kizer
Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)

JamesL

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Re: Option 565 Sideways Rear Seat
« Reply #24 on: November 02, 2021, 19:38:23 »
My car has it and in 18 years has been used twice.
(I’ve told this story on here before…) Second time the occupant was my 6 year old son. He sat there happily as normal until he spotted the car following and in the blink of an eye had formed a pistol out of his fingers and kept shooting the car behind. They laughed their heads off.

It’s stuck with me because for years: certainly all his life, kids have been strapped in forward facing (rear as tiny ones) car seats with harness belts and side impact protection. So he’d never  faced any direction but forwards but at the first opportunity and with nothing to copy (maybe an old tv show?) he turned and started shooting the guys behind. As no doubt we all did when we were not wearing seatbelts as our parents drove us around.

In other news, we had a mk1 jag xj6 when I was about 5 and my older siblings and I regularly used to stand with our heads out the sunroof as Dad whizzed along. Probably grateful for the oxygen as mum and dad both smoked like chimneys.

So my kinder seat hasn’t been used again (son is now as tall as me) and is there as the car came with it. I’ve thought about shelves but then I have find somewhere to keep the seat (and back)
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather