Just a few months in the past, we wrote that two Mercedes 300 SL Roadsters with the identical chassis quantity have been found in Germany, and restorer Klaus Kienle suspected that the instance he offered in 2019 was pretend. The proprietor of the opposite instance, traditional automobile vendor Ralph Grieser, claims to have discovered the pretend instance in Malaysia. Investigations are persevering with.
In June 2023, German “auto motor und sport journal” wrote that when traditional automobile vendor Ralph Grieser from Mulheim Karlich needed to register a Mercedes 300 SL Roadster purchased in Switzerland, he found that there was one other 300 SL Roadster with the identical chassis quantity. A second Mercedes 300 SL Roadster with the identical chassis quantity, 198042-10-002786, in yellow, was offered in 2019 by famend traditional automobile restorer Klaus Kienle.
From the start, Ralph Grieser was satisfied that his instance was authentic and that the one offered by Klaus Kienle was a pretend. That’s why he began to analyze totally. He discovered the suspected pretend automobile in Malaysia. To resolve the thriller, Grieser traveled to Malaysia in mid-August 2023 with an professional from Koblenz.
Knowledgeable affirm that the automobile offered in Malaezia is a fakeThe professional was requested to analyze whether or not the yellow Mercedes 300 SL with physique quantity 198042-10-002786 is authentic or pretend. Mercedes has stamped the physique sequence in a number of locations. The chassis quantity might be discovered on the body, however Mercedes has additionally stamped a corresponding quantity on the engine, transmission, and rear axle in addition to on the suitable and left entrance axle. The steering, doorways, tank nozzle, as properly glove field have a quantity printed on them. All numbers are famous on the information card.
The engine sequence was seen, however “different clues to show the identification of the automobile such because the numbers on the dashboard, steering column, body and on the suitable and left entrance axle have been eliminated, that are clear indicators that this isn’t an authentic automobile.”
The professional concluded that the yellow Mercedes 300 SL Roadster has, really, a distinct chassis quantity and that it’s 198042-10-002765. The unique automobile had a white shade and crimson inside, was delivered in 1961, and was stolen in Frankfurt in 1983. The conclusion of the professional quoted by the German “auto motor und sport” journal is obvious: “It’s not only for an automotive professional that the proof obtainable is so clear that manipulation must be concluded”.
The yellow Mercedes 300 SL Roadster offered by Klaus Kienle appeared within the 2020 of Kienle Automobiltechnik calendar.
Mercedes 300 SL Roadster offered by Kalus Kienle as a dealer in 2019
How does Kienle defend himself?Kienle says he has researched the automobile’s historical past and the automobile in query, a yellow Mercedes 300 SL Roadster, has had the identical physique sequence for the reason that early Nineties. He says he solely acted as a dealer in a business transaction and that he didn’t restore this automobile as a replica and didn’t manipulate the chassis quantity. He says there’s clear proof that the automobile has the identical chassis quantity from the Nineties, and that’s the way it arrived in mid-2019 at Kienle’s restoration store.
Two specialists affirm that the automobile purchased by Ralph Grieser is originalOn the opposite hand, Grieser says the automobile he purchased has a transparent historical past: it was produced in January 1961, and the primary proprietor owned it till 1969, when he offered it to the second, who saved it till October 2022. Amongst different issues, the soft-top, windshield, aspect home windows, and ground mats are authentic, and the automobile has by no means been restored. The unique shade was yellow and the comfortable prime was black. It was the sixth instance with brake discs, and was exhibited on the Geneva Motor Present in 1961.
Two impartial specialists have licensed the identification and originality of the Mercedes 300 SL Roadster owned by Grieser, which is now painted crimson. Basic automobile vendor Grieser says that “now we have additionally the automobile that was constructed seven chassis numbers earlier. That was the reference automobile for me.”.
Mercedes 300 SL Roadster owned by Ralph Grieser
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ralph Grieser is satisfied that he owns the unique instance and that is licensed by two impartial specialists. Grieser additionally says that the automobile with the pretend physique quantity was found in Malaysia. The professional who analyzed it confirms that it isn’t the unique automobile. However, in Kienle’s view “the preliminary speculation of the investigating authorities, which was additionally the rationale for the search, has been disproved”.
