Help with choosing top color?

[lurtch]

Hello All,

Now that I am  nearing the last stages of my 230SL restoration, the time has come to select the color for the new cloth top.

The formerly  717 Papyrus car has now been repainted in 173 Anthracite Metallic.

The old middel blau M-B Tex has been replaced by Maroon leather.

The carpets are now dark gray square weave with black edging.

The question now becomes do I go with a black top, a maroon top, a grey top or a tan top?


The purists among you may question the correctness of my color coordination. However, there is ample evidence that these choices were available in the 1966 SL model offering, so I went with it because it was not common.  I think everybody will agree that this combination was much more popular in the w108's.

Regards, Larry in CA

[Jkalplus1]

I say Maroon for your top.  Not that the other colors aren't fine...I just find too many different colors would not best showcase the car's features.

[Iconic]

In my opinion, I would not select Tan. I believe that would be out of place.
Black is not on your list.
For me, on my car, I would go with Dark Grey for the originality factor.
But, if grey was not available, I would strongly consider the Maroon.
It could be striking.
Black would be a more subtle look, but I believe the contrast would be nice.

Please post a picture when it is complete, no matter which color you choose.
I'd like to see it .... for selfish reasons.  
By the way, 173 is non-Metalic Anthracite. You must mean 172, correct?

[thelews]

1st grey
2nd black

[dtuttle123]

Black!

[ctm14]

I vote for black. I tend to think with the exception of a black/black car or navy/dark blue car that matching car color doesn't quite look right. The color is always off a bit and a strong contrast is always better than a mismatch. 

Just my two cents,car looks great,
Chris

[bogeyman]

Hi Larry:

I looked at my original color list for 280SL - I don't have one for 230SL.
It shows your color of 172 with red leather would come with 741 dark grey soft top.
I don't think you will find a 741 color, so all other combinations listed with 172 body color list a black top as original.
My choice would be black as that would be the closest to original suggested color.

PS - Car looks great, love the colors.

[jeblack123]

Grey or black. Great looking car.

James

[hauser]

Black

[KevinC]

Black.

[Benz Dr.]

If you can get the colour you want you can always have a top made.