Author Topic: Light Wood vs. Dark Wood (Read 15421 times)

Douglas · « **on:** July 27, 2004, 11:51:09 »

I'm told wood came in either a dark or light stain. I'm also told that lighter color interiors often (but not always) came with lighter stained wood.

I'd like to hear from people about the original color of their wood, particularly in relation to the original color of their interior.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

George Davis · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2004, 12:48:07 »

Hi Douglas,

black interior with dark stain judging from the wood inside the hardtop, which appears to be original with little sun damage.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

Ricardo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2004, 13:49:29 »

Light colored wood with cognac interior
Ricardo

Joe · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2004, 14:30:37 »

Was the dash wood the same color as the wood inside the hardtop? My cognac interior also has the light (light oak color) in the hardtop. I stained the dash wood mahogany, but it is not the right color because it too closely matches the dash material color. If I were doing it again, which I am not, I'd use a darker, not lighter, stain.
Joe

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2004, 15:21:22 »

My 1966 230SL has a light interior with the dark wood on the dash and on the hardtop.

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

J. Huber · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2004, 15:56:19 »

Hello. I redid my dash trim and stained it to match the original color of the speaker grill (that was still in good shape). It is not the dark mahogany look I have seen on some cars. It is lighter -- possibly in the oak or light cherry family. I like it. Hard-top trim is a lighter oak look.

Exterior white & Interior blue.

James
63 230SL

Douglas · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2004, 17:59:02 »

Here are some pix of the dark wood in a car with an original black leather interior. The wood is unrestored:

Download Attachment:

wood.JPG
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Download Attachment:

wood2.JPG
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Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2004, 18:15:23 »

A picture of the dark wood on my 230SL. It is also unrestored.

Download Attachment:

wood.jpg
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- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

hauser · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2004, 19:08:26 »

I guess mine is the only odd one in this group with the stripped rosewood. But I have a preference to dark wood. I think you really have to look at the whole picture, the cars color and the interior. I would go with whatever looked best to me.

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

tuultyme · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2004, 20:07:49 »

I have the lighter stained wood with a cognac interior. The wood is still a little darker than the interior. I recoated mine with a bright marine varnish which did not change its color. Is it originally a satin finish?

Bruce; 268Blaugrun(green) 1970 280SL; IL

Douglas · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2004, 21:13:28 »

Yes, I believe it originally had a satin finish.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

hauser · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2004, 22:07:07 »

Doug did you get to take a look at what Gernold had to offer during your last visit? I believe he has both dark and light wood pieces. I know that the two hours flew by and you can't remember everything when you're in a "Pagoda Candy Store."

FYI Buds sells unfinished if you're looking for a custom look.

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

hands_aus · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2004, 05:37:16 »

Light wood -- dash, console, hard top with black MB tex interior, Papyrus white exterior, all original

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

rwmastel · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2004, 09:06:39 »

Doug,

My wood looks like yours and I believe it to be unrestored. You've seen my interior!

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #14 on:** September 06, 2004, 11:38:50 »

Not sure how I missed this one.
Light wood is a real pain. Most of this stuff is heavily bleached out by the sun and is several shades lighter now than when it was new.
The darker the colour the better - the reflection from the wood on to the windshield will make you wish you listened to me.....

Daniel G Caron

tobacco · « **Reply #15 on:** September 07, 2004, 11:48:53 »

Anecdotally, I can attest that when I was a senior in college, every new 1970 280 SL in the inventory at Cincinnati's Mercedes-Benz dealership had satin-walnut-finished woodwork. And the same was true late that year and early in 1971 at San Antonio's Mercedes-Benz dealership while I was in basic training. And in April of that year when I was stationed in Sacramento, every other 280 SL surrounding my brand new one at von Housens Motors had the same satin-walnut-finished woodwork as mine.

Speaking only about those last two years of the W 113, I'd be quite surprised to hear of a U.S. specification 280 SL with light-colored wood -- and shocked to hear that either had a gloss finish.

Bill Greffin
Chicago
#22375

toml · « **Reply #16 on:** September 09, 2004, 09:25:35 »

Hi Guys, well I just took delivery of a brand new 40-year old Euro 230SL. What I didn't see in the copious pictures of the car (otherwise all good) was the state of the dash wood = not good. Bet none of yours are painted black over rot from a leaky windshield seal?

I immediately had the windshield (old one was fogged up) and seal replaced (looks great), and now wonder what to do with the wood. I'm aware of heritage wood works and am partial to the dark french walnut look (of the two). But have any of you here stripped and/or relaminated your own (I'm sure I need new veneer) or is it best left to the pros?

TomL, Portland, OR
1964 230SL Euro 4-speed Silver+Black w/ Red Interior
1973 280C DOHC Metalic Blue w/ Tan interior

hauser · « **Reply #17 on:** September 09, 2004, 09:48:05 »

Tom there is a video called Total Restore and it is focused on a black/bamboo 230sl. I didn't really care for some of the topics and how much time was devoted to some of them but there is a chapter on wood refinshing. You may want to check it out?

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

Ben · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2004, 09:51:35 »

quote:
Tom there is a video called Total Restore and it is focused on a black/bamboo 230sl. I didn't really care for some of the topics and how much time was devoted to some of them but there is a chapter on wood refinshing. You may want to check it out?

.......I couldn't agree more ! The bit on the wood is one of the better parts of the film. Other parts are total crap !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

toml · « **Reply #19 on:** September 10, 2004, 19:19:36 »

Great news! So where does one beg borrow steal or buy (I guess) this video?
Thanks for the tip. Is the whole video focussed on a 230sl or just the wood part?

TomL, Portland, OR
1964 230SL Euro 4-speed Silver+Black w/ Red Interior
1973 280C DOHC Metalic Blue w/ Tan interior

hauser · « **Reply #20 on:** September 10, 2004, 21:48:50 »

Here's the website www.totalrestore.com you can get it in VHS or DVD format. The video features a 230sl restoration. We have discussed this topic here before. Do a site search on "total restore video" and see what some members thought about it.

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

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Author Topic: Light Wood vs. Dark Wood (Read 15421 times)

Douglas

George Davis

Ricardo

Douglas

hauser

tuultyme

Douglas

hauser

toml

hauser

Ben

toml

hauser