The third seat option.. pros and cons

[grn280SL]

I've come very close to finding an SL that I really like.. It has possibly the ugliest MB TEX interior I've ever seen, but I think I can replace it with nice leather.   It also has the 3rd seat option?  What do you guys think of this? How rare is it?  Does it add or detract from value?

Thanks.

[Douglas]

What makes the Tex so ugly and what color is it?

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[grn280SL]

It's tan/orange and highly textured, it looks like a faux rhino skin.      That combined with greenish carpeting.  Does anyone have experience changing out the entire interior?

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by grn280SL

It's tan/orange and highly textured, it looks like a faux rhino skin.      That combined with greenish carpeting.  Does anyone have experience changing out the entire interior?

Could this be "Bamboo" tex?  I had it and it is ugly, or at least didn't appeal to me.

The entire interior can be done.  All it takes is money.  Plenty of vendors, check The Star magazine, GAHH, etc.

The third seat is a bit of a novelty, perhaps worth a few dollars.  However, who would sit in it?  Your child?  How are they restrained?  Does their head become the roll bar?

A novelty--but impractical for real use.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[Douglas]

quote:Originally posted by grn280SL

It's tan/orange and highly textured, it looks like a faux rhino skin.

Admin note: I can read your mind and inserted your picture for you  



That's called "cognac."

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[dwilli3038]

The "rino skin" MB tex still looks better than what my PO did to ine....RED VALOUR[!]

Daryl
'64 230 SL Buckeye Benz Scarlet interior and Grey top Serial # 508
'77 280SE

[mdsalemi]

Oh that's right...my bad.  "Bamboo" would not be described as tan/orange, but more accurately as "dried ball-park mustard". (and hence its removal).  Of course when clean and new it probably looked a lot better!

Note: someone in San Francisco bought all my old bamboo interior 1n 1999 so it might be floating around on another car!!

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[France]

Hi Guys,

I can confirm that the kindersitz is frankly useless.  I put groceries on it, and it's just the size of a bag of pond pebbles.  No one except a Little Person could fit on there, and they'd fly out around the corners!

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France; Switzerland
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...stable now including a 92 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by France

Hi Guys,

I can confirm that the kindersitz is frankly useless.  I put groceries on it, and it's just the size of a bag of pond pebbles.  No one except a Little Person could fit on there, and they'd fly out around the corners!

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France; Switzerland
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...stable now including a 92 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic

Do you remember when they had coupes called "2+2"'s?  We used to joke--2 people and 2 pizzas.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[CarlG]

My 10 year old still sits in the third seat on rare occasions when both boys are with me.  It does have a seat belt which I had added and we only do it when we are going somewhere very local and at low speeds.  I would not imagine he will be able to fit back there much longer.  The safety aspect of the third seat has been discussed a few times on this site and made me mindful of being very cautious when he is back there.

1967 230sl (stick)

[Eryck]

Not sure about the rarity but it was a factory option. The datacard of my car says that it originally came with a third seat but it wasn't there when I bought the car.  After quite some time and effort, I finally got one installed.  Not cheap mind you.  So from my perspective, it is something to cherish and appreciate eventhough it's only a novelty.

1965 230 SL White Manual
Hong Kong

[john.mancini]

It really is funny how different one person's taste and preference can be from another person's. I have a 68 280SL with congac Tex and I love the way it looks with the 568 signal red. It has a very classic look, typical of older European sports car. (Most Ferrari's for example were red over natural leather.)
John

[GTMSJ]

I had the MB tex interior taken out of my 280 a couple of years ago and replaced with leather. The "3rd" seat footwell had had a custom box installed in the cavity, which made the floor level with it's seat bottom.  The seat has now been restored, but is really not useable for anything other than packages.  The footwell is a convenient location for my briefcase though.  The replacement leather was pretty costly, but the smell is absolutely intoxicating!

1970 280 sl silver/red
1992 NSX
1998 GS400

[Shvegel]

I did see a picture her of a little tyke strapped into a third seat. His head was right at the level of the edge of the tonneau cover and the top of the seat back. Looked pretty lethal.

[RobMarks]

Does anyone have any detailed pics of the Kinder seat, in-situ and pics of the underside and or how they are attached that could be loaded on this page. Also the footwell. Just curious whether the attachments are similar to how the standard shelf clips in and out.
 Having 2 small children, it is frustrating only  being able to take one out at a time.

rob

RobMarks

[perry113]

Quote:
The third seat is a bit of a novelty, perhaps worth a few dollars. However, who would sit in it? Your child? How are they restrained? Does their head become the roll bar?

A novelty--but impractical for real use.

Response:

The first time I ever rode in a 230SL was sitting in a kinder seat when I was 12. Ah,, memories...
This very same car became mine 2 years ago. It's quite the novelty and useful as I myself can fit in it. My girlfriend's son is as happy as a lark sitting in the back when we go out as a threesome. It gets attention from all who peruse the car. And I can fit unusual shaped items in the footwell area without the stuff rolling around in the rear when going around turns. It's a plus for me to have it.

I can agree with safety concern issues about lack of seatbelt provision, but were talking about a 43 year old car. I realize I'm dead meat if I'm in a major collision when I'm driving my MGA or my father's Morgan. I would love to race a 300SL gullwing knowing that if the car ever rolled I know I won't be able to open the door. How about being sanwiched in the rear seat of a Ferrari 365GT 2+2. These are the risks I will always take to enjoy and experience any of these old cars.

If anyone needs picture references of kinder seat email me at pperry444@juno.com.

Peter Perry
1965 230SL
1972 911T
1959 MGA
1951 MGTD
1965 Morgan 4/4