Not sure if this will help, but I use the VIN number to order parts...for W113 cars (230SL ,250SL,280SL, 1963 to 1971) typical VIN is 113.044 10 023456. 113 means the chassis type for all three of these cars, 044 means 280SL (042 is 230SL, 043 is 250SL); in the next position 1 means left hand drive, 2 means RHD; next 0 is manual tranny, 2 is auto, the last six numbers are the build sequence number that runs from 1 for the first (say 280SL) to the last one made of that model.

The VIN is on the registration, on a plate on the car, and probably in several other places depending on the particular model.

There is also an Aufbau (build) number shown on the data card. For for the above SL's, this is in the form "06440". This number is stamped into some body parts such as the hood to show that the part was original to that particular car but this number is not used to order parts.

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1971 280SL Tobacco Brown; 4 speed manual; Cognac interior; Jump Seat; 75,000 miles. Can be seen at www.panix.com/~rmadison/mercedes.shtml