Black out paint behind grill screen

[Kazoo]

When you look through the grill you see the sheet metal sections that are in front of the battery on one side, and in front of the air cleaner canister on the other, and I imagine they got body color paint when the whole car was painted. Can someone tell me if MB originally blacked out these two sections ( with black paint) so that you don't see body color through the grill? Or were they just left.
Thanks!

[Tyler S]

Yes they were blacked out. Believe it or not the paint was applied with a brush!
The paint used was the same dark dark grey/black used on the rocker panels. There is some info about it in the tech manual I believe.
Some discussion about it here>> http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=21954.msg156800#msg156800

[Benz Dr.]

I agree yet I've seen original cars where it wasn't blacked out so I 'm not going to say always.

[Kazoo]

Those may have been friday cars during Oktoberfest !

[Tyler S]

Maybe only light color or metallic paint cars got the treatment? Keeping it from clashing with the black grille.

[Benz Dr.]

This car is a signal red 230SL - a 1964. I don't think body colour has anything to do with the blacked out treatment.

[Jonny B]

Here are some shots of an original owner 250 SL, undergoing restoration work some years ago. The restored car has been seen in a number of magazines since it was completed. It is stunning.

[66andBlue]

I agree yet I've seen original cars where it wasn't blacked out so I 'm not going to say always.

Dan,
the brushed-on paint that was used was not very durable as you can see in the photo here.
Some eager beaver could have removed it before you saw the car first.
The driver side had even more spots where the paint had peeled off. This car left the factory on May 15, 1964 and had not been repainted until last year.

[49er]

Yes they were blacked out. Believe it or not the paint was applied with a brush!
The paint used was the same dark dark grey/black used on the rocker panels. There is some info about it in the tech manual I believe.
Some discussion about it here>> http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=21954.msg156800#msg156800

 Pretty sure all were painted black and most definitely with a brush (and not very neatly either). Brush work also behind the doors and below the bright trim where the rocker meets the body and it is dark grey.

 When my '67 250SL came back from the Hollywood Mercedes body shop (operated by Hollywood Mercedes) after my front end collision all those years ago, everything behind the grill (except the radiator) was painted white. It went back to get it "touched up" with the proper black. I guess it was a common mistake to make then.

John

John

[Kazoo]

Well I guess I should address the elephant in the room.... just to keep this fun thread going....Love the photos btw - thank you!

Do you slap it on there with a brush, or do a nice tidy job with tape and a spray gun??

[Tyler S]

Do as "Fritz" did. Start it on a friday. Go to lunch and have a 6 pack. Get back to work around 2. Employ your favorite Picasso or Rembrandt technique. Punch out and let it dry. Will look like it just came from the factory!

[Kazoo]

OH NO...I knew you were going to say that....will have to check my ADD at the pub...and go for the 6 pack!

Then about the color....matte black like the suspension components or is there a special color that may require another treasure hunt to find?

[49er]

Here are a few more photos (including the area above the rocker and trim). Neatness didn't count and it was being done on an assembly line but you have the time so masking tape would probably be a good thing   The paint has dulled a bit over the years but semi gloss sounds about right.

John

[Tyler S]

The discussion link I posted above has paint codes. Though dont know if their still avail.

[Benz Dr.]

Dan,
the brushed-on paint that was used was not very durable as you can see in the photo here.
Some eager beaver could have removed it before you saw the car first.
The driver side had even more spots where the paint had peeled off. This car left the factory on May 15, 1964 and had not been repainted until last year.

This car has never been painted and it only has about 35,000 miles on it. Some areas were blacked out but not behind the grill. Very original car.