Author Topic: Question on original 230 passenger door trim  (Read 20973 times)

rwmastel

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Canal Winchester
  • Posts: 4567
  • Pagoda SL Group: 20+ years and going strong!
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #25 on: February 02, 2006, 19:57:59 »
quote:
Originally posted by A Dalton

Also look at the handle part# .. it states one part # and a footnote  *- Right side for LHD/left side for RHD.

Aren't parts books great!  So full of detailed infomation.  I would believe that any driver's side door with a handle was added by someone after delivery.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420
Rodd

Did you search the forum before asking?
2017 C43 AMG
2006 Wrangler Rubicon
1966 230SL auto "Italian"

113gray

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #26 on: February 03, 2006, 15:02:23 »
After your responses, I have concluded that there should be NO GRAB HANDLE on the DS door. The part # info was particularly strong & in addition, my parts book from the VDH German Mercedes Club has a picture (p.71) of the interior of what I think is an early 230SL which clearly shows the handle only on the PS. That should pretty much settle it. Thanks to all that responded.     -JP-

A Dalton

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #27 on: February 03, 2006, 15:29:09 »
quote:
Originally posted by rwmastel

quote:
Originally posted by A Dalton

Also look at the handle part# .. it states one part # and a footnote  *- Right side for LHD/left side for RHD.

Aren't parts books great!  So full of detailed infomation.  I would believe that any driver's side door with a handle was added by someone after delivery.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420



 Yes , Lot's of correct info... one will also notice that under the  Chassis Type Quanity column, it list 1 per chassis, not 2....

J. Huber

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Cedar Ridge
  • Posts: 3061
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #28 on: February 03, 2006, 15:50:58 »
I am not 100 percent convinced. Almost but not quite. Is it mere coincidence that 3 of the earliest cars on this forum have/had the dual handles?

James
63 230SL
James
63 230SL

A Dalton

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #29 on: February 03, 2006, 17:03:18 »
< Is it mere coincidence that 3 of the earliest cars on this forum have/had the dual handles?
>
 There is a remote possibility that the early did use both and they quickly found that the driver side one was in the way , so they eliminated it  [ probably due to complaints from some Rally test ?]

 Possible, but none of my parts books show that to be the case .
 My guess is one handle....but  not betting the Farm on it.........


Chad

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #30 on: February 03, 2006, 22:54:23 »
Perhaps this is a somewhat variable aspect of the cars, and acceptable as such?  Perhaps the dealers had individual preferences and added one?

With the majority of examples lacking a handle on the driver side, especially post 1964 cars.

KevinC

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #31 on: February 04, 2006, 15:14:49 »
Playing "Devil's Advocate"  :twisted: , if the factory sales literature describes it as a "holding grip for passengers", wouldn't you assume that the driver's side wouldn't require one as they should be holding on to the steering wheel?



Download Attachment: MB Holding Grip.JPG
58.26 KB

Kevin Caputo
Boca Raton, FL
1967 230 SL Automatic
670 Light Ivory
113 Bronze/Brown MB Tex

J. Huber

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Cedar Ridge
  • Posts: 3061
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #32 on: February 04, 2006, 22:41:58 »
Yes, but using that same logic why on earth would an owner (or 3)then want to add one later?

James
63 230SL
James
63 230SL

A Dalton

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #33 on: February 05, 2006, 02:59:18 »
<<using that same logic why on earth would an owner (or 3)then want to add one later?>>

 Semmetrical Correspondence..

  I know of 2 with driver grips and both were added by the owners...
.. and that was the reason given when I inquired.

J. Huber

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Cedar Ridge
  • Posts: 3061
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #34 on: February 05, 2006, 09:24:08 »
I concede that having them on both sides makes symetrical sense. And mine may just be one of those owners looking for it. I am still hung up on the 1963 factor for some strange reason. If your out there, Iceberg -- handles or no?


James
63 230SL
« Last Edit: February 05, 2006, 09:36:44 by J. Huber »
James
63 230SL

Ben

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #35 on: February 06, 2006, 03:21:07 »
Just my €0.02............my February '64 car is RHD and has both handles although I am positove that the drivers side one was added later as one of the chrome pieces is a slightly different shape and the actual plastic has been painted black !

Its unlikely that this part was not available new anytime in the past so I figure some porevious owner simply wanted a handle there and came across a very similar one !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

Mike Hughes

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, VA, Blue Grass
  • Posts: 1740
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #36 on: February 06, 2006, 16:45:02 »
When I got my 230SL, one of the first things my wife asked me was why there was a handle on her door and not on mine.  I told her that Mercedes presumed that the driver would hold on to the steering wheel while driving and only the passenger needed a hand hold.  She said to me, "So Mercedes expects you to close the door with the steering wheel, too?"

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havana Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

Chad

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #37 on: February 06, 2006, 18:08:51 »
Again, perhaps this is a nod to a spartan and sporting tradition. Of my few cars of the era, none have had door pulls. An alfa guilietta had none, a DB2 had none and an mga had these door pull straps. I think the overall effect was to aspire to a car built primarily for sport, and not convenience. To me it makes sense that a sporting car would not have the same type of trim for the driver that a sedan would, but this is the era where A/C and automatic transmissions were making their way into roadsters that still aspired to have some sporting character, transforming them into more marketable cars I suppose for buyers who didn't want a pure car in the traditional sense.

When I first posted this topic question I was questioning whether the passenger grab handle on this car should even be there... I had some suspicion that someone may have taken a hardtop handle and drilled it into my passenger door trim. It seems natural to have no interior handles to me based on my experience. I initially wondered if anyone would think this subject interesting enough to respond. All this discussion about the driver's grab handles that are out there is much more interesting.

In any case, I am leaving this passenger grab handle there because it definitely sounds like it belongs.
« Last Edit: February 06, 2006, 18:13:58 by Chad »

114015

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Tecklenburg
  • Posts: 2080
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #38 on: February 06, 2006, 18:34:35 »
Hello Fellows,

Strange that you discuss this topic so thoroughly...

Of course door grab handles are ORIGINAL on both doors for the 230 SL until VIN 000914. After that only the passenger door kept the door handle. Until that VIN the one on the drivers door was flatter than on the passenger's side.
All European models had the passenger side grab handle.
Only the later US versions with their different soft pockets on the door and their improved W114-like armrests omitted these grab handles at all.

The reason why the grab handle was removed from the drivers side is better clearance between steering wheel and door panel as you already mentioned.

Since VIN 000915 on the 230 SL the armrests on the door panels changed towards the shape all of you know on the 230ies (+ early 250ies).
You can grab this "cow horn"-like armrest and shut the door with it.

The passenger door's grab handle remained for the passenger's additional comfort.

Best,



Achim
(Magdeburg, Germany)
Achim
(Germany)

113gray

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #39 on: February 06, 2006, 18:52:53 »
Achim, The grab handles on my '66 Euro/Italian are identical on both sides. I guess this is another piece of evidence that the one on my DS (L) was added later. Not sure why this makes me unhappy.  :?:   -JP-
« Last Edit: February 06, 2006, 18:59:38 by 113gray »

Chad

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #40 on: February 06, 2006, 19:59:33 »
Achim's post sounds like the definitive answer to me, and the one that should settle this for those concerned.  

JH, can you notice as to whether your driver handle is of different dimensions from the passenger one, as Achim says?
« Last Edit: February 06, 2006, 20:00:52 by Chad »

J. Huber

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Cedar Ridge
  • Posts: 3061
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #41 on: February 06, 2006, 22:21:27 »
Achim, you are my hero! Yes, my driver's side handle is flatter than the handle on the other side. Never noticed that in 20 years of driving number 871!!


James
63 230SL
« Last Edit: February 06, 2006, 22:24:27 by J. Huber »
James
63 230SL

glennard

  • Guest
Re: Question on original 230 passenger door trim
« Reply #42 on: February 13, 2006, 18:42:33 »
My '64 has just the RH door pull on a LD drive car.