[TKNast]

Is there a place that I can get more info about my 450sl?

Sent VIN to MB South Africa and all they can tell me is:

Mercedes-Benz 450SL Chassis No: 10704462037946
Engine No: 11798522019268
CDA: 233400
Paint: CY Green
Transmission No: 7220011162701401039608
Key: HD 6665
Comp Date: 11-2-1977
Becker Mexico: N250725
Date Of Sale: 30-1-1978

For example, I'm looking for details on the seats as I would like to recover them. How do I know if they were leather or MB Tex? What was the original colour of the seats? Did all 107 seats have rosette inserts?

Is there any other info that one can get about the specific car from the VIN?



Thanks

 

[rowdie]

I am surprised they did not provide the interior color code. In that year it is most likely MB-Tex. Leather was an option. I don't think interior code was shown on the body plate.
Here we would contact the Classic Center in California. Maybe the Classic Center in Germany can help.

 

[TKNast]

Thanks. I'll see if there is a classic centre here in South Africa but otherwise will e-mail Germany.

I'm still interested to find out if all seats had Rosette inserts or if it was an option to order them without. Does anyone have knowledge of this?

 

[Aussiemerc]

Do you have a build sheet ( a strip of computer style paper) hidden behind a rubber grommet near the jack in the trunk? That would have all the detail. Have you checked the body plate Rowdie referred to? (in front of the radiator) The codes give you all the specs when it was built.

 

[hchaugli]

Checked your VIN on the Daimler Benz EPC, the car shows up as a US 450SL, but the datacard was not available for this car.
I also tried a Ukrainian site, but no info on your VIN.

 

[TKNast]

Thanks for checking. Strange that it shows up as a US 450sl. Only Euro models were imported into South Africa. They were distributed via MB's plant in the Eastern Cape and the car's CDA number checks with the number on the plate that was attached by the local distributor.

 

[TKNast]

I'll check to see if there is a build sheet and I'll check all the codes on the body plate and let you know.

Thanks for the help guys!!

 

[rowdie]

I think the VIN shows it to be a RHD. Can't be a US model if it is.

 

[hchaugli]

Did a double check of the MB EPC using the VIN, it listed both US and ROTW, sorry for the mistake.

 

[TKNast]

I have attached pics of the plates in my very first post of the thread. These are the only 2 plates at the radiator. Also could not find a build sheet.

Should there be another plate somewhere showing codes?

 

[Aussiemerc]

Sorry, don't know.

 

[rowdie]

I totally forgot about the East London plant. So rare to see a 107 from there. I wonder if the records are even held by MB or if they still exist at the plant. What applied to German made cars may not apply here.

You may have to look at an inconspicuous place on the seat material to determine leather or MB Tex. After that determine color. Post a picture of the rosette pattern. Maybe someone will recognize it.