230 SL Interior Color Details

[KevinC]

My interior color code suggests that my MB Tex color is #2400 bronze/brown which seems to be accurate.

I am perplexed regarding the seatbelt fabric color as it appears to be sort of "khaki"-greenish. They dont seem faded as they are consistently this color from end to end. The tag on the belt states "American Safety Eqiup Corporation 40-200 SAE J4c 1966-4". The buckle is stamped "Hickock". Any ideas as to what the correct color should be?

Also, the car has the ivory steering wheel option. Is the brown horn-pad correct or was it likely to be a discolored ivory one?

Thanks in Advance!
-Kevin

1967 230 SL
670 Light Ivory
113 Bronze Brown MB Tex
437 Brown Canvas Top

[mdsalemi]

Hello Kevin,

Regarding the seat belt, I believe that the factory installed seat belts were made by Kangol.  Some other folks might have more in depth knowledge on the subject but if Kangol it was, yours were probably an aftermarket or dealer installed item sourced in the USA.   If that's the case they probably got a color as close as they could to your interior.

I believe the padded horn pad matches the seat and the padded sections of the ashtray as well as the window winder inserts.  So if the horn pad color is close to your Tex, it is correct.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Douglas]

The seatbelts you're describing are clearly aftermarket, as I would expect on a 67 230SL. The Kangols didn't come out until later.

The steering wheel center on an ivory wheel is supposed to be ivory.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[KevinC]

Obviously a differing of opinions on the horn pad. This pad is brown so in effect, it matches the ashtray cover and window winding handle. It has a completely different "texture" though so that's why thought it may be suspect.

Does anyone have any experience as to what happens to an "aged" Ivory pad? Does it turn brownish?

As far as the seatbelts go, I think that I wil just see about changing the fabric to something closer to the upholstery color.

Thanks!

[A Dalton]

Horn pad matches my interior and I have Ivory wheel..
717 interior code...043 Euro

[Ed Cave]

If you purchase a new ivory steering wheel/horn pad, it will look like this. Also note ashtray lid and window crank.

Download Attachment: new white wheel.jpg
61.09 KB

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[TA250SL]

Kevin, you might want to try www.ssnake-oyl.com for your seat belt restoration.

Tom
1967 250SL
Los Angeles

[Ben]

Maybe folks are getting confused by the term "centre" !

The soft padded area should be as the seats/door panels etc and the very centre where the start is should be the same colour as the wheel i.e ivory/ivory and black/black !

Correct ?

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

[DaveB]

I believe the Hickok belts are standard for US 230sl, and I suspect yours may have been khaki brown but faded a little? The ivory horn pads do turn brown as they age, especially with a lot of sun. I'm pretty certain that black and ivory were the only original colours for the horn pads, at least for 230s. Perhaps that changed in production. The colour matching of the ashtray lid and window crank pads was introduced in production - originally they were all black.

DaveB

[DaveB]

I believe the Hickok belts are standard for US 230sl, and I suspect yours may have been khaki brown but faded a little? The ivory horn pads do turn brown as they age, especially with a lot of sun. I'm pretty certain that black and ivory were the only original colours for the horn pads, at least for 230s. Perhaps that changed in production. The colour matching of the ashtray lid and window crank pads was introduced in production - originally they were all black.

DaveB

[KevinC]

So we are tied...three say ivory pad on an ivory wheel...three say same as MB tex (or ashtray cover/window cranks which in my case is brown all the way around).

hmm...

[KevinC]

Interesting...on Brian Peter's site, the '67 250 SL that sold on 1/15 has a BLACK interior, but brown horn pad on an ivory wheel. Begining to think that the original ivory pad "discolors" over time to brown. But the '67 230 SL (sold 11/18/04) has an ivory wheel and the pad clearly matches the MB tex...with a BLACK center star to boot.

I guess there may not be a "right" answer.

[Bob G ✝︎]

I noticed at Fashion Island in Orange county the once big Mercedes-Benz show that Bruce Struss one of the restorers had a black 280SL on display with a bright red interior the horn pad was painted to match the upholstery. Now weather this was a decision of Mercedes-Benz to match horn pad colors with interiors I donot know, but I can say from the books I have and some of the cars I have seen that this is a fairly none common site.
Bob Geco

[Douglas]

Regarding the ivory steering wheel -- you've got to look at period pix to determine whether or not details like this are correct.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Ben]

Looks like there is a difference between early and late cars either way. My early 230SL has black interior but ivory wheel and gearknob with black pad and the very centre with the star is white !

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

[hands_aus]

My early 250sl has black mbtex interior with white steering wheel, black gear stick knob, faded white horn pad with chrome ring and white star center logo.

Ben I like the combination of colour of your horn pad.

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

[Ben]

Curious'r and curious'r !  

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

[A Dalton]

quote:Originally posted by Ben

Looks like there is a difference between early and late cars either way. My early 230SL has black interior but ivory wheel and gearknob with black pad and the very centre with the star is white !

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

 That would follow with my Early 250, Euro...Red interior with Ivory wheel, red pad w/white center/logo..mine also has the chrome circumference trim ring surrounding the pad. I think that went out when they stopped using the flattened horn ring..which mine has.
 The choice of colors seem to be well balanced with the red/white of the dash, along with the chrome accents. Very pleasing to the eye.
These early wheels also had the holes in the spokes for the horn/ring mounts and the flat ring  seems to gives better dash vision.
 No idea why they dumped that???

[Douglas]

I still don't believe the ivory wheel was sold with anything but an ivory padded hub in the center. Look through the Brooklands reviews from the 60s and you'll see at least 5 period pix of original 230SLs with all-ivory wheels.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Ben]

quote:mine also has the chrome circumference trim ring surrounding the pad

.......yep got that and I agree about the horn ring too !

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

[J. Huber]

I guess I'll add my combo. ('63 with blue MB Tex)... Black steering wheel, with black (or very dark dark grey) horn pad, chrome trim around it, black window cranks, door pulls, and presumably had a black ashtray... lid was missing, I replaced it with a dark blue one.

James
63 230SL