230 SL Paint Scheme

[mdsalemi]

I received a call today from my friend, a local independent, refinishing a 230SL.

The car is 050 White; the hard top is black. (note originally it was white according to the data tag)

It has the early 2-piece wheel covers, and the wheels appear to be the same white as the car body.  I believe the intent is to renew the paint on the wheels and wheel covers and hard top, too.

Question: given the white body and black hard top, what is the most appropriate paint scheme for the wheel covers and wheels?  Does anyone have a white/black combination like this that you could share photos of?

[thelews]

The standard was that the wheel covers matched the hardtop.  There were exceptions.  My mother's signal red 280 SL had a black hardtop and hupcaps.  Mine has a red hardtop and caps.  We both have/had black soft tops.  This was also true of the 190 SL.

[thelews]

Here's an example, didn't have to hunt too far.  Wheel is white and cap is black.

[mdsalemi]

You know, John, my FIRST inclination was to simply call you directly!  Thanks!  Not only did I have a suspicion that you would have the answer--in record time--but I figured you'd find some great photos as well.

Thanks once again.

[thelews]

quote:Originally posted by mdsalemi

You know, John, my FIRST inclination was to simply call you directly!  Thanks!  Not only did I have a suspicion that you would have the answer--in record time--but I figured you'd find some great photos as well.

Thanks once again.

I'm wondering if the car in the first picture is the same as the one in the showroom.  I can't see if it has foglights in the first picture.

Also, my mom's car was a 280 SL with a full hubcap.  So, I don't know if the 230 example shown is normal with the wheel the body color and the cap the hardtop color, or if the wheel and cap would have been the same color.  If we knew if these were the same car, or not, it would help answer the question.

At this link http://www.motoringinvestments.com/mbz.htm you can scroll down and you'll see lots of pics of the relationship between hardtop and hubcap color on a 113.  Unfortunately, none are 230s.

Here are some more pics to help muddy the waters.

[Bob G MN]

This is interesting.  I have a 230 SL with a white body, black top and I know the hubcaps normally are black but mine are white and since I've had the car since '67 and know that it had not been repainted they must have made exceptions to the rule.  As far as I can tell the data cards don't indicate what color the hubcaps are so unless someone knows a bit more about this I assume the original owner ordered it with white hubs.  I talk to her extensively about the car but nothing was said about this.
Bob

[waqas]

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but in addition to the wheel caps matching the hardtop colour, I always thought the wheels themselves needed to also match. Obviously, this only matters for wheels with the two-piece hubcaps (230sl or 250sl).  The pictures below show both versions of this.

[Rolf]

I was under the impression the caps matched the hardtop. Unless there is no hardtop, then the caps matched the body color. The wheels match the body color.