1964 230SL Keys and Ignition Switch

[freightflyer]

I'm the owner of a 1964 230SL. The keys that came with this car are not OEM. I am trying to restore this car as authentically as possible and would like to use OEM keys however this particular car has been through many owners and I have no way of knowing if the locks that match my after the market keys were original to this car though the locks and keys work normally. I've checked with my local Mercedes dealer and was told that Mercedes would no longer sell only the skinny for safety reasons.

Does anyone know where I could find a complete set of skinnys for this car that I could cut to fit?

My ignition switch works normally however I've heard that if this should wear out that replacing it was close to impossible and that one from a 250 or a 280SL would not work. I would like to have a spare just in case. Does anyone know where there is one available or who could rebuild my existing switch if needed?

Thanks

Britt

[ja17]

Hello,
The Mercedes Classic Center and/ or Tom Hanson can be very helpful with these difficult problems. You cannot always depend on the experience of the parts man behind the counter.
Also I would venture to say that some of the "finback" Mercedes sedans of the era used the same ignition switch assembly. I know for sure that the door handles are the same. If you cannot get new keys from Mercedes, find original used keys for the doors and have the tumblers changed to match by a locksmith. The door handle key tumblers, trunk locks, and glove box lock, come apart easily and can be made to fit an original key just by changing the tumblers. the ignition lock is a little more difficult. However a used original key blank can sometimes be recut to work on another ignition. If you cannot get an original key new or used let me know. Hope this helps.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Tom Hanson]

The ignition lock is the same as the one used in the sedans of this vintage. They just are not available anymore. Neiman was the ignition key manufacturer. I said "was" because they don't make them anymore. The other keys are still available. There is a lock shop in Newport Beach, CA, called Balport Security who might still have some ignition key blanks. 949 area code.