1963 soft top trim detail

[waltklatt]

This question applies to those with an early 230SL top frame with the chrome trim on the outside.

Have just installed the wood bow onto my 220SL soft top frame and now have a question.
Where does the top chrome trim fit? 
Does it go directly above the seam that joins the top and rear fabrics?
Can a picture be provided?
Many thanks,
Walter
1967 220SL-diesel

[SteveK]

I have a 66 that somehow wound up with the wood bow.  My bow has a small half circle in the middle of it on the top.  The chrome trim was right in the center of that indentation.   After I replaced the canvas, I used the edge of a piece of masking tape to identify the center of the indentation and then just replaced the chrome.  (just tapped it in with a rubber mallet.)

In my case the trim sits 3/4" in front of the seam in the middle of the bow, a little less at the ends.   You need to make sure the bow is all the way back (straps tight) before you install the bow.

I'd also get a few more opinions, I just put my bow back where I found it.  Not sure that is the original spec.

[J. Huber]

Hey Walt. See if these help. I can measure exact distance from seam if you'd like me to.

[thelews]

I hate to sound stupid, but wouldn't the purpose of the strip be to cosmetically cover the seam?

[J. Huber]

You know John, that does make sense. I have put two soft tops on over the years 1994 and 2008. It may have migrated during the first one but it is exactly where it was this last time...

If you have a good eye, check out this video at 8:40 ... it appears to be on the seam. I would guess I can't exactly move it now, or there will be some holes? Sorry Walt (if the Lews is correct?)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIuo82fubVA

[thelews]

It's very clear that it covers the seam in the video.  Good resource and investigation.

You could try very carefully removing your trim, seeing what it looks like, steaming any holes and marks and relocating.

[J. Huber]

Well, I looked a little closer at mine. The chrome strip has a series of "claws" so its not just two screws making holes but several. So I may be stuck leaving it alone and wishing "I didn't know now what I didn't know then". Thanks a lot John  .

[SteveK]

I'm with you, moving it is too risky!     It would also be hard to make sure the pins went in straight, as they would be on the very back edge of the bow.  I did look carefully at mine when I had it apart and the only nail holes were in the center of the bow, so either it's always been like that or somewhere during its life, someone shortened up the straps and the bow is now a little further forward.  I'll think about fixing this around 10 years from now the next time I do the top!!!

[J. Huber]

Glad I have company, Steve! Fact is, I also enjoy looking at the seam. It is nice and crisp -- and I am still at the "love my new top" stage... its been exactly a year. (BTW, you are blue on white as well aren't you?)

[thelews]

If it really bothers you, you could pull it off and have it look like later tops.

[SteveK]

James, actually my car is one of the funny ones.   I've never quite figured out the color of the body.  The paint doesn't match the code and I've bought a bottle of every shade of white mercedes makes and none quite match, the closest so far is Classic White.   The top that was on it was black, and without a lot of thought I replaced it with black.  My interior is blue so the next time I'll probably go blue on the top.  (The original code is black however).  I've done all I'm gona do on the body for a while, now starting the rebuild of everything else!

[al_lieffring]

I have tried to explain this in other threads, but here goes again.

If you look at the photo of the 190sl top and moulding you will see that the sewn seam along the rear bow does not extend across the ceneter section of the top, this seam was left unfinished when sewn, then the top installer would fold the material under, tack it to the wooden frame then the chrome strip was installed to cover up the tacks.

the blue top on the 230sl has the seam sewn all the way across the top and appears to have been made in the same manner as the 65 and later tops with the metal rear bow.

The later top can be made to fit on the wood bow frame, but the chrome strip no longer serves any function, it would be just ornamental.

It would be interesting to see whom if any one still make a correct early 230 top cover with the unfinished rear seam (as illustrated in the 190sl photo) or do they all just sell a 250/280 top as a "fits all".

[thelews]

That said, the 190 SL top kinda sucks because the side seams do not line up with the trim, as they should, and be partially covered by the trim.  Even though I know this, I thought the picture might still be helpfull.  To say the top is a problem top is a bit of an understatement.  Look at the 230 SL top in the Journeyman by comparison.

[al_lieffring]

When I was at the Classic's Center in Germany, the gift shop had 1/32 scale Pagoda models with the soft top up. The "canvas" was wrinkled at the base of the rear bow seam where it meets the corner of the door glass. Just like the way they fit on a real world Pagoda soft top.