EBay Alert Thread

Superturbo

1,338

01-16-2012, 03:00 AM #153

Son of Biiiiiiiiiioooootcchhhh! $4,050.00 current bid!!!!

Mercedes-Benz 280SL factory ZF 5 speed transmission MINT complete
1963 thru 1971 230SL 250SL 280 SL RARE pristine

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-28...3f12694793

Quote:280SL factory FIVE SPEED gearbox - RARE

Hard to find PRISTINE ZF stock 5 speed gearbox with driveshaft, linkages and mounting hardware - complete. These were special order in the 1963 through 1971 Pagoda roadster (230SL, 250SL or 280SL.) The five speed gearbox option was apparently available only up through the 1969 model year here in the US but very few American customers pursued the added expense and wait time which is an absolute pity. This is the transmission that will make any Pagoda a great touring car. It can be retrofitted into any 4 speed or automatic Pagoda series SL. Included here is the hard to find short output shaft with original balancing weights. No custom work is required. Also included is a brand new factory shift knob with 5 speed graphic - your choice of black or white to match your car's steering wheel. Wiring for reverse gear is original and intact including factory connector.

This transmission comes from a low-mileage (approx. 80k original documented kilometers on the clock,) accident free 1968 european specification 280SL that suffered from serious rust issues. Both the motor and transmission were superb but the car was more valuable parted out. I had the opportunity to drive the original car this transmission came from and can attest that all synchros including 2nd and 3rd shifted flawlessly and that the gearbox was quiet and free of any unnecessary noise or vibration. There was no problem accessing reverse. This transmission shifts beautifully as one would expect in a new car such as a Ferrari or Maserati but of this vintage. I drove the original car from Palm Springs to Los Angeles at speeds over 100 MPH. I had the opportunity to drive this car in the Santa Monica Mountains over Malibu. The mechanics of this transmission were flawless.

The oil in this gearbox will most certainly be original and should NEVER be changed.

The vehicle from which this gearbox was removed had the original inside fender welds preserved. All body panels, though heavily rusted, appeared to be original. The car had never been in a frontal collision of any magnitude. Therefore there is no impact or sheer damage to the internal gearing or output spline.

This transmission was removed from the original vehicle in September of 2011. This transmission had NOT been sitting idle for long periods prior to that date. The donor vehicle was not only in operating condition when I agreed to buy this transmission but had been driven regularly for years. I paid $11,500.00 for this gearbox and the accompanying parts offered here. I never got around to installing this transmission in the concours 69 SL for which it was purchased. Unfortunately I sold the car last week.

The factory ID plate of this transmission reads as follows:

Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen A.G.
Typ. S5-20
Stueckl. Nr. 102500057
AFT Oel ('oil')
Gretriebe (serial number) # 2333
Plate No. 1025301014-02
Main case No. 1025401042 ZF
Bell housing No. 1025401049
X-fer plate No. 1025408018 ZF
Rear transmission housing No. 1025401054 ZF

Gear rations as transcribed from original plate. These are quite legible and this plate appears to never been modified or removed from the housing.

1 Gg: 3.29
2 Gg: 2.215
3 Gg: 1.418
4 Gg: 1.0
5 Gg: 0.848
R Gg: 3.49
Tach: 2.16

Please note that Gg is an abbreviation for "Gang" which is the German for 'gear.'

The majority of the so-called 5 speed Pagoda cars you will see at shows or car meets have in fact been fitted with a gearbox salvaged from a W124 series or similar car and a custom drive shaft has been cut and balanced. This is NOT the same gearbox nor are the ratios optimal nor is the machining of all parts including linkages of this high a caliber. This is truly a magnificent gearbox and decidedly the most desirable and anatomically correct upgrade for any sixties through 1971 SL.

This post was last modified: 01-16-2012, 03:04 AM by DeliveryValve.

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