original color of 69 280 sl wheels,

[John W Mitchell Sr]

do wheels match body color or silver or black on original

[JamesL]

"black" - may be such a dark grey they look black!

[Pinder]

Ive always assumed they match the body color. I have seen black on several cars regardless of body color. not sure if that is original or not.

[JamesL]

Didn't the rims match the body on early cars with 2 part hub caps/wheel embellishers? Think the big single units on later cars (280...) covered the rim so much they went with a black

[lreppond]

For cars equipped with two piece hubcaps, 230/250’s, the wheels were painted the color of the hardtop. For cars with one piece hubcaps, the 280’s, wheels were all painted a satin black.  The only wheels which were silver, were the Bundt alloys.

[Pinder]

Yes Sorry I may have confused the question about wheel color. It makes sense that the dog dish type are painted body color as it shows through.

[Jonny B]

And the back of the wheel body colored wheel is satin black.

Not sure they used the very dark gray - good question there.

[Mike Hughes]

For cars equipped with two piece hubcaps, 230/250’s, the wheels were painted the color of the hardtop. For cars with one piece hubcaps, the 280’s, wheels were all painted a satin black.  The only wheels which were silver, were the Bundt alloys.

I think that you'll find that the 230/250SL wheels are painted body color in all instances.  It is the hubcaps that are painted to match the hardtop.

[mbpaul]

On my 1966 230SL, the wheels were painted body color on both the front and the back.  May have been different at another time.

[lreppond]

Thanks Mike Hughes for the correction.  Body color for wheels, hardtop color for hubcaps centers on those with 2 pieces.  I bet that looks really sharp on your two toned car!