Interior Upholstery Color

[n/a]

I have almost completed the exterior of my 280sl, and will begin the total redo of the interior.
What are members opinions on putting in a non-standard color interior. My exterior is DB180 (Silver), and I am not that enamored by either red, black or blue (just personal taste- no reflection on those that do have these colors). I always liked a light tan or parchment leather, but this was never available on the silver cars, any opinions before I begin? A completely new black leather interior (as the car was built) does not really "show" that much.

[Douglas]

There were standard color combinations, but I've always been under the impression that you could order any interior you wanted, so long as it was available in that color.

And since you're soliciting opinions, I think a parchment interior would look terrific on a silver car.

Other leather colors you may also want to consider: dark green (1073) (as opposed to "mignonette green"), rusty red (1099), medium blue (354) (as opposed to blue), and light red (1088) (as opposed to red).

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
#018260

[rwmastel]

My Euro-delivered 230SL has a color combination that I have never seen documented in any book, so I assume you could order your color combination.

I don't have a color recommendation for a silver car, I've not yet seen a silver W113 in person.

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

[Douglas]

Actually, if you don't mind a little bit of personalization, I have always thought it would be nice to add blue tartan plaid seats to a silver 113 in homage to the Gullwing. (The Bohringer car is the only Pagoda with plaid seats that I've ever heard of.)

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
#018260

[tobacco]

We've ordered our new E500 4Matic in DB744 Silver with Stone -- today's equivalent of DB180 with Bamboo or Parchment.  

And Douglas is right; you could order a new 280SL in any combination of available exterior paint and interior leather/Tex you wanted.

The only limiting factor I'd argue for in this case is choosing a leather/Tex interior color that was truly available when your car was new.  I think the combination sounds terrific.


Bill Greffin
Chicago
#22375

[230SL67]

My `67 230sl is DB180 and came with a white-grey interior which is almost identical to parchment and I think it looks great.

Chris

[rwmastel]

Chris,
Do you know your interior's 3-digit code?  It would start with a 1 if it's MB-Tex or a 2 if it's leather.  It would be listed on your data card.

Thanks,

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

[230SL67]

Rodd,  I am at work but I think the number is 116 or 119, can't remember for sure.  It is listed in the Meredith book although it doesn't indicate that color option with DB180, but that doesn't mean he has every combination listed.

Chris

[rwmastel]

It is not possible to list every combination because cars could be custom ordered.  That's why data cards can be important.  Descriptions of MB-Tex interior color codes can be found here:
http://www.sl113.org/data/show_table.asp?table_name=usr_color_code_mbtex
I'm not sure of the source of this info, perhaps Meredith's book is one.  I wouldn't worry about the paint/interior combinations listed, but I would pay attention to the Tex/RubberMat/Carpet description of your color code.  This helps you get the right stuff in your car if you want to go "original".

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

[mulrik]

Go for red. repeat, go for red. I recently saw one silver with red leather interior, it was so stylish and elegant. Besides it's THE Mercedes color combination. Well just a personal opinion, but go for red.

'67 250 SL Papyrus White 113043-10-000023

[rwmastel]

In our database of paint/interior combinations, it looks like a turquoise interior was a factory option with silver paint.  Now that would be interesting!

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

[n/a]

Here's a Black one with Turquois interior. Not sure a silver exterior would make it look much better... no intended offence to anyone... just IMHO

http://www.xk-sl.com./SL230-250-280/1312.htm


`68 280sl
`62 Lincoln Continental Conv.
`73 450sl

[Douglas]

I agree with mulrik that silver with red is one of the all-time great color combos, but which red -- red, light red, rusty red or wine red?

Doug
1970 coupe/rdtsr (silver with black leather)

[n/a]

Thank you all for your feedback, after constant nudging towards red, I am now considering changing everything to red leather, but there are so many different shades M/B has used.
Any suggestions...