Poll: Which color would you paint your car?

[Miloslav Maun]

Imagine you have a stripped car which is ready for a new paint job. You do not have any limitation like maintaining the original color etc. You are simply free to choose.
Which color would you go for?
[:0]

[Miloslav Maun]

I hesitate between white (ivory) or dark blue.

[gwuisman]

I think you would take a collor that is in harmony with the collor of the interior. Beside that my favorits are silver, silver blue or dark green.

Gerard Wuisman,
1970 280sl

[n/a]

Perhaps I am making myself impossible now...uch...but isnt the original color, marked on the factory-papers, what it should be ? Could you imagine an original red Ferrari to be restored and re-painted white ?  I guess Enzo would turn in his grave  :twisted: . Besides that: (and that is just my humble opinion) a Pagode is a beauty whatever the original color is: just the quality of the restauration and the way the car is treated and maintained, can make it look like garbish.  :mrgreen: btw: my car is two-toned (original): Elfenbein (Ivory) with top (hard and soft) and wheelcaps Aubergine.  
Leo

[J. Huber]

Well since we are talking hypotheticals: my car is stripped and completely rid of any rust and body imperfections -- I would choose:

1. A shade of white w/ blue interior (sentimental favorite)
2. Dark Blue w/white or oyster interior (PARCHMENT!)
3. Signal red w/oyster
4. Dark Green or a Silver Blue

James
63 230SL

[Tom230sl]

Personal opinion only:

OK, I love these cars but have admit one thing.
These cars, although beautiful, are not the most masculine stylistically.
Light colors other than Silver or White tend to look a bit like a lady's car.

I think that explains my choices;
1. Black with 250 Cognac (shows well and always brings the money at auction)
2. Dark Blue with 254 Parchment (close 2nd)

On my ground-up resto can you guess what I opted for?

[Kenneth Gear]

The metallic green has really grown on me, but db 180 Silver (the color of my car) is really sharp.  In my opinion it's a classic Mercedes color.

Having said that, any original color will look great

Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red

[n/a]

Iverson

This is a no brainer.  The car should be signal red.  Red looks good, shows well, sells well and never goes out of style.  A nice oyster, saddle, palomino or other light/neutral color would go well with the red.  Of course, I may be a little prejudice since I own a signal red 230 SL with a light saddle colored interior.  I may feel just as strongly if I had bought a silver colored car.  I would be much less enthusiastic about any of the lighter colors.  

Actually I have a similar problem with a 1960 220 SE (no fins) coupe.  The car is an off white with a near mint condition dark blue full leather interior.  I cannot decide whether to paint it back in white to retain the originality or paint it a better looking silver or gray.  I am leaning toward the silver.  What are your thoughts?

Thanks

Iverson

[Chad]

I am spending too much having this done to my 230SL right now. Painting it medium blue 350. I think it's just beautiful. For some reason I just can;t stomach red. Have had a 750F Giulietta Veloce and had to switch it away from red.

-CD-
1967 230SL, 113.042 10
1983 300TDT, 123.193

[Mark in KS]

050

[n/a]

The greatest classic color combination, IMO, is light ivory with red leather interior.  Mercedes has featured this color combo for decades, on the 300sl, 190sl, and the 113 pagodas.  It is timeless, and it has been featured on several front covers of Star Magazine.

And, I chose it for my car, and love it.

All the best,
Don

[jsaylor]

I'm planning on painting my '65 230SL DB180 silvergrey metalic, I love the combo w/ my red interior.  Just about ready to instal new sound proofing on floors.. Then instal
l all new carpets.  New floors and rockers are in and came out great.  Bit by bit...

Aloha,

Jim Saylor
Kauai, Hawaii
'65 230SL

[Jonny B]

I too am highly prejudiced on this matter, Signal red is the first choice, then the arabian gray (very classy look), any of the dark blues.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[pablo_o2]

After a long discussion with several other pagoda owners I decided to change my color from 050 white (original)with green interior!! to 180 metalic with winered interior.Imo  a)commercial the most interesting b)surely the most authentic MB racing color c)very nice matching contrast between in and out d)does not show dirt very easy (as to white...). But one cannot discuss about taste so...

Paul Haems
'68 280SL

[graphic66]

040 black as it came and as it is.

[Raymond]

I just finished with this decision.  My car was 050 white.  I agonized over reds, green, and blues.  In the end, I chose the same white. The car is a coupe with cognac interior.  It just looks right together.

If I had a parchment interior, I would choose dark blue. But in my limited opinion, the instrument panel looks cheap when painted any dark color.  

(Bet I catch a ration for that last statement!)

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[dldubois]

906   Metallic Blue.

I'm in the process of getting ready to repaint and I'm keeping it original.   This color looks great w/ the Parchment interior and the dark blue carpet.  

I'd been around this car for 20 years before buying and always loved the color.  



Dana DuBois

1969 280sl auto
blue (906)
Corinth, TX

[hauser]

I have always liked DB906.  There's just something about this color on a 113 that always puts a smile on my face.  It shows very well with the chrome even though it's a light color.  The other thing about it is how the color seems to change depending on lighting conditions.  



1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[graphic66]

What? nobody going the chrome illusion route.

[drewsalisbury]

Muf - second the motion from Tom230sl and Raymond for the original Dark Blue over the original tan leather...  Drew:>)

Drew Salisbury
1971 280sl auto