Ethics of cloning a Merc hardtop.
Discussion
Bought a Merc 300SL W107, but tragically it looks like the previous owner has left the hardtop at a dealer 10+ years ago. Needless to say it is not there anymore and therefore I need to get one.
I understand that the chassis number of the car is on the hardtop, so my questions are:
1) Is this true? How does it work if you buy a new item from a place like the SL Shop?
2) If 1 is true, can't get my head around whether it is possible to change the chassis number on the hardtop and from an ethical point of view my mind swerves between thinking:
a) Swap the chassis number if it can be done and still look original. After all it is only a hardtop.
b) It is only a flippin' hardtop, get one, respray if necessary and keep original chassis number. The chassis number issue is trivia, option a is a totally scummy act and I deserve a monstering for even thinking it.
Thoughts?
I understand that the chassis number of the car is on the hardtop, so my questions are:
1) Is this true? How does it work if you buy a new item from a place like the SL Shop?
2) If 1 is true, can't get my head around whether it is possible to change the chassis number on the hardtop and from an ethical point of view my mind swerves between thinking:
a) Swap the chassis number if it can be done and still look original. After all it is only a hardtop.
b) It is only a flippin' hardtop, get one, respray if necessary and keep original chassis number. The chassis number issue is trivia, option a is a totally scummy act and I deserve a monstering for even thinking it.
Thoughts?
I agree with Rags.
It cannot matter which car the roof is from, if it's from the right model it'll be fine, it'll keep the rain out, job done.
MX5s are a good example of this, many have hard tops with them, some available from Mazda, some 3rd party, as long as it's present it helps with a sale, but generally it does not matter where it came from.
It cannot matter which car the roof is from, if it's from the right model it'll be fine, it'll keep the rain out, job done.
MX5s are a good example of this, many have hard tops with them, some available from Mazda, some 3rd party, as long as it's present it helps with a sale, but generally it does not matter where it came from.
Stu - B said:
I can't help but agree with you also. Thread was along the lines of worrying about detail as the car has low owners, fsh etc.
Well if you where that worried about originality you should have checked the hard top existed, and was delivered with the car when you bought it. Edited by Stu - B on Friday 3rd September 14:34
Now your option is to piss and moan or get one from somewhere and get it sprayed to match, one of these options will give you a hard top the other will result in a long thread on a motoring website.
Engineer1 said:
Stu - B said:
I can't help but agree with you also. Thread was along the lines of worrying about detail as the car has low owners, fsh etc.
Well if you where that worried about originality you should have checked the hard top existed, and was delivered with the car when you bought it. Edited by Stu - B on Friday 3rd September 14:34
Now your option is to piss and moan or get one from somewhere and get it sprayed to match, one of these options will give you a hard top the other will result in a long thread on a motoring website.
Do you like your PT Cruiser diesel?
Edited by Stu - B on Friday 3rd September 18:52
Every SL came with hardtop as std so it's a bit different from an MX5 I think.
Still.....I've had many many SL 107's and didn't even realise they were chassis numbered. Where might I find the number....might check mine now.
Personally don't think it matters unless the car is ultra rare which is highly unlikely since its an SL and they made millions of all derivatives.
Buy one on Ebay (a good one_ and paint it....job done. Then get some sleep
Still.....I've had many many SL 107's and didn't even realise they were chassis numbered. Where might I find the number....might check mine now.
Personally don't think it matters unless the car is ultra rare which is highly unlikely since its an SL and they made millions of all derivatives.
Buy one on Ebay (a good one_ and paint it....job done. Then get some sleep
Stu - B said:
Engineer1 said:
Stu - B said:
I can't help but agree with you also. Thread was along the lines of worrying about detail as the car has low owners, fsh etc.
Well if you where that worried about originality you should have checked the hard top existed, and was delivered with the car when you bought it. Edited by Stu - B on Friday 3rd September 14:34
Now your option is to piss and moan or get one from somewhere and get it sprayed to match, one of these options will give you a hard top the other will result in a long thread on a motoring website.
Do you like your PT Cruiser diesel?
Edited by Stu - B on Friday 3rd September 18:52
.If you're not interested in the thread then don't get involved.......go clean your PT
Bizarre. I have to say I doubt that each hardtop would be numbered on 107 SL's, but I wait to be proved otherwise.
I had a 129 SL, with the original hardtop. I stripped and replaced the roof lining, and electric mop polished it plus fixed the non functioning heated rear screen. So I got pretty up close and personal with it and never spotted any numbers.
As an aside, the hardtop for my SL was refurbed and cleaned as above when I got the car in the summer, then stored in a hardtop bag in the garage. 2 years later when I sold the car, the hardtop was removed from the bag and fitted.
I now have a 911 cabrio, and the hardtop is still in it's hardtop bag in the garage where I put it 3 years ago!
I never use the hardtop, I just don't see the point. The car is warm / dry / quiet enough for me without it fitted. Occasionally in winter you get one of those cold but gloriously clear sunny days, and the soft top goes straight down. If I had the hardtop fitted I would miss those days.
Tho only thing I will say is that my 911 LOOKS better with the hardtop fitted. The soft top definitely spoils the line of the car. The SL I think didn't look as bad with the soft top though. As the styling was more angular it kinda looked ok.
Who on here does use their hardtop and why?
I had a 129 SL, with the original hardtop. I stripped and replaced the roof lining, and electric mop polished it plus fixed the non functioning heated rear screen. So I got pretty up close and personal with it and never spotted any numbers.
As an aside, the hardtop for my SL was refurbed and cleaned as above when I got the car in the summer, then stored in a hardtop bag in the garage. 2 years later when I sold the car, the hardtop was removed from the bag and fitted.
I now have a 911 cabrio, and the hardtop is still in it's hardtop bag in the garage where I put it 3 years ago!
I never use the hardtop, I just don't see the point. The car is warm / dry / quiet enough for me without it fitted. Occasionally in winter you get one of those cold but gloriously clear sunny days, and the soft top goes straight down. If I had the hardtop fitted I would miss those days.
Tho only thing I will say is that my 911 LOOKS better with the hardtop fitted. The soft top definitely spoils the line of the car. The SL I think didn't look as bad with the soft top though. As the styling was more angular it kinda looked ok.
Who on here does use their hardtop and why?
Don't use the Hardtop on the SL but would do if I were to use it i the winter.
I use to use the hardtop on a TR6 because the ride and handling was transformed beyond recognition.
Incidentally......Funny how views/taste differ, I actually like the look of the soft top on a 911 but don't like it so much with the roof down and think it looks positively horrid with a hardtop. Very subjective as they say.
I use to use the hardtop on a TR6 because the ride and handling was transformed beyond recognition.
Incidentally......Funny how views/taste differ, I actually like the look of the soft top on a 911 but don't like it so much with the roof down and think it looks positively horrid with a hardtop. Very subjective as they say.
vpr said:
Don't use the Hardtop on the SL but would do if I were to use it i the winter.
I use to use the hardtop on a TR6 because the ride and handling was transformed beyond recognition.
Incidentally......Funny how views/taste differ, I actually like the look of the soft top on a 911 but don't like it so much with the roof down and think it looks positively horrid with a hardtop. Very subjective as they say.
Do you? I would have said that when the hardtop is on mine a layman would not be able to tell it's a cabrio - when I first got mine I drove it home with the hardtop fitted with my friend in his 911 coupe, and the two cars looked virtually identical. It fits very well and apart from the small lip around the back under the glass almost looks like a coupe.I use to use the hardtop on a TR6 because the ride and handling was transformed beyond recognition.
Incidentally......Funny how views/taste differ, I actually like the look of the soft top on a 911 but don't like it so much with the roof down and think it looks positively horrid with a hardtop. Very subjective as they say.
I agree wholehartedly about when the top is down though! It's great fun being inside and driving with the top down but from the outside - it reminds me of a long rowing boat with seats!
Doesn't look too bad from the rear 3/4 view but from the side looks way too long and out of proportion. Boxsters look better where they're shorter I reckon.
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