Original Floor Mats: Will Colors Be Available?

[JPMOSE]

Within the next two months I want to replace my square weave carpet on my 1968 250SL.  The first blow was the Cognac color is no longer available.  Fine...I'll go with dark tan (to me it's a better color anyway   ).  Now comes the rubber mat dilemma!  Mine are brown and real nice with one exception...it has a clean split width wise on the drivers mat...too bad because it is great otherwise!  

What do you picky 230/250SL owners do about replacing them?  Dying the new Antracite ones will just wear off. [:0]

Has anyone solicited a vendor to make repros. in color?  

OK...so I could switch to all carpet, which wouldn't be original but would look better anyway.  Does the heel pad supplied match the original one (I'm sure the answer is no)?    

Maybe I should try and repair the split mat.  Has anyone done this with success?

HELP!!!

Best Regards,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL

[rwmastel]

Maybe you should just go with a rubber-backed coco mat?  http://www.cocomats.com/

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

[hauser]

I have coco mats and couldn't be happier.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[JPMOSE]

I don't think my prior post was too clear.  My car doesn't have carpet under the rubber mats.  It has this code on the data cards.  The orignal owner flew to Germany in 1967 and ordered the car this way.  I actually would prefer to just have German square weave carpet in place of the mats....then covered with Coco mats.  However, this is a question of authenticity...what do early Pagoda owners do when showing the car for points?  If it is suppose to have rubber mats in lieu of carpet (typical of 230 and 250 models), are they replaced with Antricate mats and painted with vinyl paint (if original mats are not usable)?

Best Regards,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL

[Vince Canepa]

I understand your question and the answer is that the only color that has been available for quite a long time is Anthracite.

You could order a set of Anthracite mats and install them when you are not showing the car, covering them with coco or other mats to get a better color scheme.  Install the originals for show.  That means you will have to repair the original mat.  3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive might work.  Use it with a fabric reinforcemnt on the back side of the mat.  I don't know if the paint option will be convincing.

I always show my car with the rubber mats (i.e. without any coco or other mats to cover them).  I have some nice red/black houndstooth mats I put over the rubber mats when I am not showing the car.  Also, up until the late 250SL, all the cars came from the factory with rubber mats.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[JPMOSE]

Thanks Vince...that's the answer I needed to hear.  Maybe I'll get Ron's Restorations (will be replacing my square weave soon) to make up a square weave mat that will clip in place like the rubber mat.  I'll then try to glue the brown one per your suggestion.  Then...I'll get Coco mats to put on top of the square weave per the suggestion of you and others.  Thanks for your help...once again, I love your 250SL!

Best Regards,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL