It was probably something like this:

That was the very last production number 280SL on the line. As they were about to put in the M110 engine the chain broke and the engine fell on the floor and smashed into a million pices. But the line was moving fast and the next engine in the que was an M103 ready to go into the first production 300SL. Hienz the line forman, not wanting stop the line and get into any trouble, quick like a bunney deciede to just install the M103. While that was that was being installed he had his buddys Rolf and Dieter, come over and install a compatible wire harness.

You might think this is not possible. I could tell you stories. What goes in the production line stays in the production line.

John Roncallo