Why no Model type on Glove compartment???

[PBH]

Hi everyone...
Im a new member looking at buying a 250 or 280... Ive noticed that not all cars have SL280 on the glovebox door... I havent read about this and cant see it as an option like option 254 Omit  Automatic on Boot... can anyone help me why an SL280 wouldnt have this... does it mean its a replacement glovebox door???

Many thanks  Paul

[Sead]

Hi everyone...
Im a new member looking at buying a 250 or 280... Ive noticed that not all cars have SL280 on the glovebox door... I havent read about this and cant see it as an option like option 254 Omit  Automatic on Boot... can anyone help me why an SL280 wouldnt have this... does it mean its a replacement glovebox door???

Many thanks  Paul

There was NO sign on glovebox door FROM factory. On any model.

[PBH]

Many thanks... Seems like a number of people added this...

[zoegrlh]

You are correct, some owners think that it looks good and should have been there from factory.

[PBH]

Many thanks

Paul

[Jack the Knife]

Prior owner did that to my car (see photo 44: https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/vehicles/pb22_0075/1964-mercedes-benz-230-sl) and it wasn't even straight!

[PBH]

Yikes... But that leather looks rockstar...

[Pawel66]

Why not from factory? If I think about it:

1. Against the style of the dash, overall aesthetics of the 60-es, simple geometric, slim, pure, functional, modern. Type emblem would not bring anything, just disturb the flow.

2. Cost - cost of emblem itself, but also not so easy fitting, given the double layered glove compartment lid. Not sure if the same as radio delete emblem could be used (due to the way of fitting it, there was no double sided self adhesive tape as today), which would mean another SKU in parts for, actually, no apparent reason.

Just my thoughts.

[zoegrlh]

In the American muscle cars of the 60s and 70s the craze was to have the car label/emblem on the glove box. Maybe those that have done this to the Pagoda, was reminiscing to American cars of that era. Most of us Americans that are here on this web site, were in our late teens or early 20s and grew up in the era of dash plate emblems.

[MikeSimon]

I am not sure about that, but if the car did not have a radio installed, didn't the cutout where the radio goes have a cover with the model script on it?

[Pawel66]

I am not sure about that, but if the car did not have a radio installed, didn't the cutout where the radio goes have a cover with the model script on it?

Yes, it did. But then it would look awkward if the emblem were not there... It was also easy to fit.

[Pawel66]

In the American muscle cars of the 60s and 70s the craze was to have the car label/emblem on the glove box. Maybe those that have done this to the Pagoda, was reminiscing to American cars of that era. Most of us Americans that are here on this web site, were in our late teens or early 20s and grew up in the era of dash plate emblems.

Given those standards, nostalgia and style, I fully understand why someone would do it and I would never think of commenting on that in a critical way - this is driven by what we hold dear and what we like, shaped by historical and social context and fashion.

By the way, many cars of the 50ies, 60ies and even 70ies had this emblem somewhere on the dash - be it for radio delete plate, be it on glove compartment lids, even those from the eastern block.

[Jack the Knife]

I believe the 300SL did it, which might be a source of some emulation

[Pawel66]

She has it, indeed (190SL does not) and it is a question of emulation, for sure.

Just that 300SL does not even have any glove compartment lid, no radio there, so the panel is very empty. This as well as the style of early 50ies would fully justify the type emblem there - again, this is just me, and - de gustibus non est disputandum.