280 S - Supposedly an AMG

[kiwi_bloke]

Can someone verify if this car is an AMG.

http://www.zillion.co.nz/listing/3392240/

Im skeptical. Below I have included a decoded VIN.

VIN WDB12602120010050
Model 280 S
Chassis 12602120010050
Engine 110924 20 003498
Transmission 00 011593
Order 0 0 403 00712
Approx. year 1980
Lights BOSCH
Cab 00297
Dealer Foreign diplomats (403)
Interior Unknown code (034)
Paint
040 black (T) (с 01.01.1963)
Options
286 luggage nets on front seat backrests (с 01.01.1962)

430 headrests in the rear (с 01.01.1977)

452 two-tone horn (с 01.01.1963 по 28.02.1993)

466 central locking system (с 01.04.1970 по 31.10.1993)

505 outside rear view mirror, left, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 по 28.02.1986)
outside rear view mirror, left, electrically adjustable (r.h.d.)

512 radio Becker Europa cassette

531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)

570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest

580 Behr air conditioner (с 01.04.1970 по 31.10.1982)

592 heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), band filter
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)

613 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)

668

674 high-capacity battery, tropical version (с 01.06.1965 по 30.11.1991)

682 fire extinguisher (с 01.04.1970)

812 rear-mounted loudspeaker (с 01.11.1974)

835 coir mats (с 01.08.1962 по 31.10.1989)

877 reading lamp in the rear (с 01.11.1963)

947 pennant holder and pennant staff, on the left (с 01.04.1964)

[POS]

The option codes won't tell you diddly. You'll need to actually go and look at it. The things I can find screwy is (1) AMG didn't touch many 6-cyl cars, much less the w126 6-cyl, and (2) the AMG badge is period incorrect.

If he's got papers, then you're in. Otherwise, I would assume it's a body kit, wheels/tires, and paint. No engine, no suspension. Papers mean everything.

[jhodg5ck]

looks like a 280 w/ a body kit, some centra wheels and the wrong AMG badge.. In other words most likely someone else's creation..not AMG.

Jonathan

[kiwi_bloke]

That was my general opinion. Do the AMG models have an AMG plate or anything like that under the bonnet?

[jhodg5ck]

Some do, some don't.. My 32V doesn't have any additional plates etc, however I can verify it was done @ AMG NA through Hartmut here @ Renntech.

On lightly modded cars it's really a tough call w/o paperwork... Once you get up into engine/transmission swaps/mods the question of authenticity becomes less of a worry.

Jonathan

[kiwi_bloke]

Its a tricky buisness this car obsession lol. If I contact Mercedes Benz, do they keep records of AMG modified cars by VIN?

[jhodg5ck]

Ha! They'll have a good laugh and inform you one way or the other they have nothing to do w/ AMG...only ///AMG.

Tracking down the history of a car w/o knowing where it started life/the most probable outlet where work was performed makes it nearly impossible to re-build history.

I was fortunate in that Only AMG NA's headquarters did 32V swaps (esp. in 86) here in the states...add to that that Mr. Feingold put up a fair amount of $$ to help AMG NA get started and that Hartmut was brought over just for this sort of thing made following my cars life quite a bit easier then most.


Jonathan

[POS]

My 83 500SL has original docs from AMG, but no badge under the hood. And it does have all the engine mods.

[Jim B.]

It's an unusual car because as a 280S, it's carburetted, without the Bosch KE jetronic fuel injected model, like most of the W126 gas (Benzin) cars. It's also unusual as it was produced a diplomatic car with the pennant holders, and it might have an interesting history if you could discover which embassi it was attached to....

"Unusual" as in a curiousity, not more desirable. AMG didn't do too many 6 cylinder W126 sedans, or diesels, but could, and did, a few. Here's one for sale on the west coast of California: www.richmondmercedes.com

As stated above, in those days the customer picked and chose which AMG options, body mechanical, interior and suspension, etc. they wanted and the AMG store put them in.

There is no way to trace the history to verify whether the car is an authentic AMG vehicle, as the records worldwide have not been retained by AMG for the older cars. Unless the paperwork is with the car, there is no proof.

Traditionally ANY three AMG modifications made it an AMG car, and eligible for the period correct badge. The wing looks period correct, and the ground efrects might be for an AMG car, but the wheels might be Lorinser, the photos aren't too clear.

What the hell is that ugly thing behind the car, an old Vauxhall Cresta or something? (Apologies if its yours and you like it)

[kiwi_bloke]

Yes, damn them for parking something so delapedated by something so "mercedes"!!

I'm just waiting on an email I sent to the guy regarding the authenticity. Ill post back When I know.