Can a softop be fitted to a 280sl California spec

[lennu]

Hi, I've just got a 1970 280sl RHD California spec, it came with the hardtop, but no softop, is it possible to fit a softop and softop cover? If so whats required?.

[Naj ✝︎]

quote:Originally posted by lennu

Hi, I've just got a 1970 280sl RHD California spec, it came with the hardtop, but no softop, is it possible to fit a softop and softop cover? If so whats required?.

Yes,
A soft top frame for a start!

Download Attachment: softtop 002.jpg
39.6 KB

And lock:

Download Attachment: Soft_top_Lock.JPG
27.46 KB

naj

[Shvegel]

I've seen it done 2 ways the first is to retrofit the original soft top well, top frame and tonneau to your car which could cost you around $4,000 to $5,000 in parts plus another $2,500 to get someone to weld it all together.

Or I have seen where someone has added just the soft top frame etc which leaves it exposed when it folds down but it would be far cheaper. The top frames usually sell around $2,500 in decent shape and new canvas is around $500.

I think there was actually a Mercedes Bulletin on how to retrofit a soft top to a California Coupe

[ejm]

Ive done this. In the end it was easier to reshell the car. You need a body shell, soft top and frame,cover panel and the wood pieces which fit on the floor behind the front seats. It would have been easier to buy a new car.

[Chad]

Perhaps you can consider a cockpit tonneau cover the style on english and italian cars, the kind that sticks to buttons around the dash and doors/etc.  This seems like a reasonable, relatively cheaper (even to have it custom made), and more acceptable alternative to the heroics needed to make it a strictly proper softtop roadster with coupe top fitted.

1967 230SL

[Benz Dr.]

I have a parted out 280SL that still has the soft top area and I saved the car for this very reason. I cut the soft top area out of another car several years ago and it's a lot of work but it can be done if you're carefull.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061