Uphostery

[Rolf]

My 230SL originally came with caviar interior and has been changed to another color. I want to bring it back to the original color (116). I have called several suppliers and am told they don't carry the caviar color. What is the suggested replacement color, if any? Presently, I am undecided whether to go with black or dark brown. If there is no replacement color for the caviar, what is the consensus of which color to use. The car is being painted the original Dark Red (542).

  Thank You

[hauser]

Here, this discussion will shed some light for your caviar quest.

http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=8789.0

[Rolf]

Thank you for the thread. I have read some posts where caviar is compared to black and then read where it wasn't really black or was a shade of black sort of. I don't know what the car would look like with black upholstery and black carpet. Or is the black upholstery not a really solid or dark black?

[66andBlue]

.... I don't know what the car would look like with black upholstery and black carpet. ....

Have you not seen any of the many photos of John L.'s car here? 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

The GAHH Charcoal #767 is perhaps the closest you can buy today.

[hauser]

GAHH can send you samples of leather, vinyl and carpet samples.

[thelews]

Any person not knowing Caviar, would say it's black.  As you know, there are varying shades of black and Caviar leans toward the "lighter" black, gray end of the scale.  Few, if any, would call it gray, just looking at it.  

My car is original Caviar MB Tex.  If you look at a jar of Caviar, Beluga preferably, you'll see what the color quality is in this MB color that makes it slightly different than a true black.  It's interesting, and I have no idea where you'd source it.

[thelews]

To describe Caviar, it's a like looking at black through a slight translucency that gives it a slight grayish quality.  Just like caviar!  Any car that still has the original upholstery in this color, I think, would command a SUBSTANTIAL premium in the market because it isn't dupilicated today.  

Black carpet and you're way off the beaten path of original, shown here.

BTW, for comparison purposes, the seat belts, shift knob, plastic steering wheel, leather steering wheel cover, passenger door pull and shift boot are all black.

[roadsterdude]

Interesting subject that brings up a question for me.  I do not want to hijack the thread, and maybe should start my own, but I am getting ready to order carpet for my Signal Red 1969 280 with original interior code 131 (Black MBtex).  It is already un-original having had Black Leather seat cover replacement in the past, but the indication is for Brown loop carpet, can that be correct? (not what it has now BTW).

I would really prefer the German Square cut carpeting, but assuming that is only "correct" on earlier models.  Should I even be concerned about correctness at this point?  Opinions?

[Rolf]

Alfred, I have seen John L.'s pictures . I did notice the black on the door panels and trim. The seats don't look exactly black. My wife and I got into a bit of disagreement on their color. She said they looked a little grayish where I said they had sort of a brownish look. like dark chocolate. I am going to ask for some samples of  colors to see what they look like.

[bogeyman]

Mike:
Dark brown is actually a misprint on the chart.  The carpet code for your car is 7006 - dark gray.

[roadsterdude]

Rick, thanks, that makes more sense.

[114015]

To describe Caviar, it's a like looking at black through a slight translucency that gives it a slight grayish quality.  Just like caviar!  Any car that still has the original upholstery in this color, I think, would command a SUBSTANTIAL premium in the market because it isn't dupilicated today. 

John is absolutely right here (IMHO)
Just perfect. Look at the grain of the door panels and then to the one of the dashboard. And then go and ask the suppliers for correct samples. 
You will never be able to duplicate that. Just marvelous.

BTW, for comparison purposes, the seat belts, shift knob, plastic steering wheel, leather steering wheel cover, passenger door pull and shift boot are all black.

John is absolutely right here as well. The factory correct steering wheel's color is of course dunkelgraphitgrau (dark graphite grey) and clearly not black, as can easily be seen on his phantastic photo and which is supported by the description in the factory parts list (attached below).
Same holds true for the steering hub pad which is also not black but (dark graphite) grey. However, if you believe it should be black because the parts list says so ... ah no. They are there just referring to the background color of the center star, which is really black.

BTW, John. Where have you hidden your beautiful correct dark grey vinyl lining for the center wooden tray? Just covered by the (incorrect) carpet? :'(

In the same manner early 230 steering wheels were "ivory colored" (without grooves) and later (not so early) wheels "light ivory colored" ... Can be clearly distiguished: the ones are darker than the other ones, which are lighter. Oh boy ...


Best 

Achim
(little originality aficionado)

[thelews]

Hmmm, I don't seem to have the correct graphite vinyl for the bottom of the tray.  Car came to me with the yes, I know, incorrect carpet in the tray.  But, you have to admit, it's an excellent copy of the original carpet, can't find that today either and I bought all the leftover he had from redoing the door sills (enough to do the whole car).

Rolf...Brown doesn't even enter into the discussion of Caviar.  Only grey and black.

[114015]

But, you have to admit, it's an excellent copy of the original carpet, can't find that today either...

Hello John,
Oh yes, I realized that very well ! Your attention to the detail is extremely high (I have learnt a lot from you about this so far).
You are also correct; it is impossible (for most people like me) to find this correct carpet you have.
And even "impossibler" (more impossible) to find that stunningly beautiful early "black and white" two-tone pepper and salt square weave carpet for my 1964 ... sadly. :'(

As for the wooden center tray lining ... I have an old one but it is not good enough for your car.
I will try to keep my eyes open and ask around for a decent (= good!) one for you, if you want....
There are nowadays soo many pagodas to be parted out and in the meanwhile; there are even good cars to be parted out.

Best,
Achim

[badali]

Here is the liner for the tray.  It is in just OK condition but at least I have it.  It looks like they shrink with age.

[Rolf]

John, Maybe it's the way the light hits your upholstery or my aging eyesight that gave it the brown hue I saw. I see now the black and gray. Is the steering wheel and pad also the same color of the upholstery and not black? The color of your carpet also eludes me.