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#1
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An 82 Mercedes 500SEL?
I located what is listed as a 1982 Mercedes 500SEL. I thought the first year for the 500SEL was 1984? I think it is an American model, since it has MPH and not KPH, which is one thing I noticed first. Also, it has the 85MPH speedometer, which the 1982s have. Also, the car has a driver side airbag. I thought 1984 was also the first year for this option on the North American models? I think the European models had airbag option before 84, but not sure. Is this car possibly a special ordered North American 82 500SEL? I think Europe had a 500SEL before 1984, but the 80MPH speedo is what is not making sense. Any clues?
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2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd 1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive 1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1988 Mercedes 300SEL 1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville (Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL) |
#2
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Check the VIN. I'll bet it doesn't have a VIN tag on the driver's A-pillar and I'll bet the VIN is something like WBD12604412xxxxxx rather than the typical US WDBCA37xxxxxxxxxx. Carfax probably won't recognize the VIN.
As for the speedometer, it was probably federalized in 1982 when an 85mph speedometer was required. Sixto 91 300SE 87 300SDL 83 300SD |
#3
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Well, as far as I know, 1982 was the only year that all Mercedes had a 85MPH speedometer- or at least the 300SDs. Starting again in 1983, the 300SD's had a 140? MPH speedo. The 85MPH would confirm it is a 82, but I never heard of a 82 500SEL North American model. But since it is in MPH, I assume it is a NA model, unless someone changed the cluster in it.
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2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd 1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive 1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1988 Mercedes 300SEL 1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville (Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL) |
#4
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The 83 300SD has a 120mph speedo. Not mine, but that's another story.
Part of federalizing a car when it's brought into the US is replacing the km/h speedo with an mph speedo. That's another reason to question the stated mileage on a gray market car. That car was not brought into the US by MB for general sale. I doubt MB had anything to do with its importation. But it's not that rare. There are a couple of Euro 500SELs on eBay at any given time. Sixto 91 300SE 87 300SDL 83 300SD |
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