automobile color

[Angelo Picarelli]

I have been trying to decide what color to repaint my car while I am going trough a body on restoration and I have gone back and forth regarding change or leave it original.  I am leaning toward leaving it original but would like the groups advise.  Additionally I am trying to verify the original color; the car has never been repainted but I want to make sure color is correct but can't find the reference number.  My 230 is a european model and the paint plate has the folowing info: 113 042 10 543
                               00110 1205
My chassis number is 113042 10 001207 and engine 127981 10 001039
I would like to find out everything I can about my car but most of all what is the 543 is Glasurit or other please help!

angelo picarelli

[A Dalton]

DB 543 was a special metalic paint .
 Glasurit Erdbeerot [ Strawberry Metalic ]

[rwmastel]

Angelo,

Please tell us everything on your "paint plate".  See example photo in this link:
http://index.php?topic=2508
We need the numbers that are "above" the line starting 113 042.

With regard to original v. different, I vote for original.  You will hear both sides of the argument from people, and I guess it comes down to "do what makes you happy".

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

[Angelo Picarelli]

quote:Originally posted by rwmastel

Angelo,

Please tell us everything on your "paint plate".  See example photo in this link:
http://index.php?topic=2508
We need the numbers that are "above" the line starting 113 042.

With regard to original v. different, I vote for original.  You will hear both sides of the argument from people, and I guess it comes down to "do what makes you happy".

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

angelo picarelli

[Angelo Picarelli]

the number on top of the 113042 is 181 --- -, I really appreciate the help.  does value change if originality is not kept(color) additionally I have the history all the way to 1983-84 when the car was sold in san diego, california.  How can I find out the rest of the history on the car. Just in the process of restoration is there anyone else beside mbclassic center for archives and original build sheet.  Thank you

angelo picarelli

[Angelo Picarelli]

thanks to evryone for the help

angelo picarelli

[Mike Hughes]

"181" is Light Beige, which is a very attractive and easy to keep body color on a W113.  Does your car have a hardtop?

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[mdsalemi]

Hello Angelo,

I hope your restoration goes well.  I restored my car several years ago and went through some of the same thoughts you are.  I ended up changing the color from white to red; but the entire car was apart and everything was done, so aside from the build data and paint codes you can't tell it was a color change.  Here's my two cents for you to ponder.

 

• Though it might be hard to measure how much, you might be devaluing your car a bit by changing the color; and almost certainly if it isn't an original MB color that was available in your model year.  I'd offer however, that "well done" work is more important then choice of color.  A bad paint job in the original color is probably a greater devaluation then a great paint job in a new color.  
• If you do decide to change the color, keep in mind that the dashboard and the inside of the wheel wells and the engine bay were originally painted the body color.  Ask yourself would you paint these the new color as well?  If not, will it look good for you? It would look mighty peculiar to those 200+ members of this group; less so to others.
• You must be happy with your color and paint job.  If you are going through the time trouble and expense of restoration you certainly want to look at that car every time you are about to step into it and say, "Goodness, that's beautiful", not "I should have changed the color..." If you really don't like the color you have, I'd suggest changing it.  If there's another color you really like, go for it.
• I obtained my original build sheet by writing directly to Daimler Benz in Germany.  However this was prior to them offering the "birth certificate" for sale.  

 Best of luck with your restoration.  There is a lot of history located in our archives here, and a lot of people willing to help.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Angelo Picarelli]

hello everyone
yes, I have both tops and the interior was and will be leather.  I have thought of colors such as black and bamboo interior or a midnight blue with tan interior. But I may stay with the original color.  The engine is out and being completely redone along with clutch and have already painted the engine bay by matching the color to an untouched area of the car. to do so we removed everything out of engine bay including brake booster but not the steering box or transmission. Any suggestions on other things I should do or look at before re-installing engine, beside engine mounts? What do you mean MB now sales "birth certificates" and how would I go about getting one and what info will it have on it.

Again thanks, this is awesome and if anyone has a picture of a 181 color car would love to see it, by the way Clear Coat is a 80's process and I have been given mixed advise what is the experts advice

angelo picarelli

[hauser]

Angelo, if your car is in fact strawberry in color I would not change it at all.  Not that it is my favorite color but because it is a rare color for a W113.  Usually you'll see a 190sl or even a 300sl but rarely will you see a Pagoda sporting this color.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[A Dalton]

So, Angelo
 What color is on the car now ..?
 You have given 2 different #s ,but no feedback on what is there now..
 Is it a Beige or is it a Red ??
 If it is Beige , then the 543 # may be Export code to Italy.
 .. but , there is a 543 G paint code for special order Metalic Poly ..
 I have seen one 230SL in this color , but do not know if it was orig..
 Sure was sharp....

[Angelo Picarelli]

the car is currently beige or light beige and that would track with the 181 paint code and I do have both tops(rag and hard top) as a matter of fact I think that this car still has the original rag top on it.

angelo picarelli

[A Dalton]

Ang,
 That would make sense ..
 Then I would suspect the 543 code to be your car was made for Italy
Export.

 Write to the Classic Cemter and they will help you out .
 If you have any documentation, look in between the pages , as you may find the Data Card .. that would really help..
 If you do consider color changes , you can go to the Combination Data on this site to see what combos were actually used .. that would be next best to original, as it would still conform to each models trim
codes/colors...
 If  that means anything..
 I am for the Original , but must admit that I have seen some color changes that were a big improvement to the eye..
 Some orig combos were not that great, minds eye.....

[pablo_o2]

where can I find the combination data on this site?

[A Dalton]

quote:Originally posted by pablo_o2

where can I find the combination data on this site?

http://www.sl113.org/data/

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by pablo_o2

where can I find the combination data on this site?

- Go to the Home Page (www.sl113.org/home.asp)
- In the Navagation window on the left click on Databases
- In the list of databases, click on the appropriate link

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

[pablo_o2]

Thanks for showing the way to the color data. As I also mentioned in the Yahoo group, this is only about the 230/250. Is there no list of the 280 available?
Paul.

Paul Haems
'68 280SL

[Angelo Picarelli]

yes my car does have a hard top, I wonder what the forum thinks about two tne colors

angelo picarelli

[Mike Hughes]

As long as you don't have any originality issues because the actual colors no longer match the chassis plate, go for it.  I have no problem with two tone W113s, but then mine came from M-B that way!

Bear in mind that it would be far easier to change the hardtop color than to change the body color.  Remember that the hubcaps should properly be the same color as the hardtop, so you should repaint them as well if you change the hardtop color.  You would just about have to take the whole car apart to properly change the body color, as the dash, engine compartment and door jambs would need to be repainted - and for the paint to stick all the nooks and crannies would need to be cleaned and prepared.  By the time you've done all that you'll probably be well along with a complete restoration!

The good news is that you have a whole rainbow of contrasting colors available to you that will look super with a 181 Light Beige body color.  Black, and various shades of Brown, Green, Maroon, or even Blue will work well with your body and interior color combination.  I'd favor Black, Brown or Maroon myself.

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Angelo Picarelli]

mike, I would love to see a picture of yours! and in the plates is there anywhere wher the top color is identified? what should I look for.  By the way most of the car is dissassembled and the egine bay is ready to be redone if I change color or stay as painted in the original color.  Again thanks for all the help

angelo picarelli

[rwmastel]

Angelo,

The original soft top color is only specified on the Data Card, available from the Classic Center.  (Search this site)

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