The Tech Manual shows only one blue for the complete w113 280sl production run. The code is 245 for the overall interior package, which is what appears on my car's original data card.
The TM also states that the 280 Pagodas got the color codes for leather from 241 through 257. The upholstery chart includes and illustrates them all except two; the numbers 252 & 253 are not included in the otherwise consecutive numbers. I hadn't paid any attention to this until today.
I've been on the hunt for appropriate leather for seat covers off and on for several years now; it's definitely hard to find. And then, lo, M-B decided to re-release it! Very cool, and, as replicated 'antique' leather goes, quite affordable. Plus, though I haven't received my sample yet, a long-time upholstery and leather expert for whom I have great respect tells me that my hides are excellent for size, grain pattern, suppleness and workability; the trouble is with the color.
I suppose more of us have seen original tiefdunkleblau "deep dark blue" as a body color than on leather -- the 904 paint code that is such a deep, dark blue that it might be mistaken for black if the light isn't good. That's the color of the original leather interior in my car. I think a first impression of it would be labeled Navy or maybe Indigo by most everyone; it's really dark, yet has some 'fire' of blue down in the dark somewhere, more so than with Navy. As best as can be seen on a computer screen, that's what's shown in our TM as being the blue leather used in 280SLs....at least it shows as really dark. I accepted that without critical thought, and when I heard that blue leather had been released for 280SLs, the type of blue was of little to no concern amongst all the characteristics listed above. And when my long-sought leather finally came in, it's in totally the wrong color. [Sounds like it might be Medium Blue, a nice soft, pretty hue from the 250sl series.]
Could there be another blue or two in those two numbers passed over by our Tech Manual? [Also of interest: M-B's computers won't accept the color code we use in the TM: 5000.]
These hides came from the Classic Center in Germany, with p/n 0000983 02 84 5020, so we can safely suppose that it's right for something in the M-B line and not dismiss it as just some retailer's BS. Our upholstery industry people seem to know 'my' blue as 2020. The TM shows several 4-digit codes for 113 leather but the majority are 3-digit. The stateside dealership that handled the purchase for me is researching, inquiring. For my part there's no need to be in a great hurry to solve it; I was beginning to have hopes for completion in time for PUB (again), but this aspect of my Pagoda Project is already long term. [It's apparently legendary that Deutsche Klassic Zentrum moves in its own time, and Pagoda curation in itself teaches patience, yes?] Still, would love to get to the bottom of this (even more love to get hold of the right stuff for my car, of course).
So: are there blues hiding in missing numbers 252 & 253? Wouldn't fix me up, but would go a long way toward understanding the snafu and maybe prevent some others.
