No VIN for 1975 R107 SL 450

[Scotto52]

Hey everyone! So I have recently somewhat inherited a 1975 SL. The problem is it was a recovered theft from the early 90's and they removed the common VIN plates. The Mercedes community on social media clued me in on some other areas to look. But I can't find anything. Also, people tend to give you places to look, but they aren't that specific about it. I can't get insurance without it.

So places I've looked include...

- the radiator support, it's missing
- the A pillar tag, it's missing
- the door jam, it's missing
- the shifter surround (?), I'm not exactly sure what to look for. I pulled that up and I don't see anything. There's a r107 number molded into the bottom side, but I assume that's just a part number. I'll google it tomorrow.

- behind the plastic cap of the jack bottom there should be a build sheet, didn't find anything.

- the seat spring (?). Again, not really sure what I'm looking for. I'm guessing the bottom seat cushion of the driver's seat

- someone said the firewall. No specifics on that. I was pulling back the insulation on the wall and I don't see anything. It's also a pain with that rubber insulation glued on, with the heater hoses, cables, linkage etc.

And that's all I got. Someone said if I get the engine serial number, Mercedes Classic can get the VIN that way. I'm not sure if that's true. I did email them over the weekend. Hopefully this is true, because I can kinda read some numbers off the block. I'm going to return tomorrow and try and clean it off better to read.

I read on the firewall on the dash side it should be stamped. But the guy the wrote that, stated he wasn't completely sure of that. Also, where the vehicle is at, I don't have the time and tools to pull a dash.

This was my old boss's car. He owned the garage that I started pumping gas at when I was still in high school. He made me go and get a degree in automotive after I graduated. The family was very good to me growing up. I was always invited to BBQs, graduations and weddings. He passed away in the spring time and the family offered me the car. He never drove it, and when he did, he just put a DEALER tag on it. So he never technically had to get insurance on it.

Anyways, any bit of advice would be helpful to me. I was hoping t get it home and met it's new brother and sister.

Thank you in advance!
~Scotto

[Paulwho]

There may be one stamped under the passenger seat, on the floor brace. And yes there should be one on the firewall.

[fonzi]

I’ve never seen a vin in the firewall of a 107. The VIN was buttered over on one of my car’s radiator supports and I thought it was a replaced rad support for that reason. Then one day laying under the car I noticed reverse numbers on the underside of the rad support. The numbers matched my vin and a chiseled out the bondo on top of the VIN to expose it.

So why do you need a VIN? Good to have for sure, but is it to get it registered? Order keys? Order parts?