[W126 Coupe] 107 Doors for 450, 380, & 560 SL's

[Gerry Van Zandt]

This is 100% correct -- the doors are different. The older style  
doors (1972-1985 model years) have the chrome style handles that sets  
on and sticks out from the surface of the door, and there is no  
concave dip in the door skin for these handles.

The 1986-1989 SLs have a flatter handle (better aerodynamics) that  
are akin to the other MB door handles of the era, for example those  
found on 560SEL sedans and much like our 126 coupes (but without the  
aero plastic shells on the leading edges). The later SL doors have a  
concave surface between the flatter handles and the door skin surface.

Here's an old-style 450/380SL door handle (chrome):

http://www.midwayclassics.com/images/74Mercedes/74MercedesLRTop.JPG

And here is a later (560SL) door handle (black, flat shape):

http://www.dragtimes.com/images/7236-1988-Mercedes-Benz-560SL.jpg
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/site/mb_3_0/images/content/1987_misc.jpg

Cheers,
Gerry
1989 560SEC
1987 560SL
1994 E500
1995 E320T


On Nov 22, 2006, at 9:01 AM, mbcoupes-request at mbcoupes.com wrote:


>

> No sorry mate the 450 doors are flat and the 560 ones have a dip  

> where the

> door handle is

>