Hello,
The door handles are a zinc casting (pot metal). You will have to find a plater who can work with this metal. The handles can be removed from the doors without removing the door panels. After removal the handles and lock cylinders can be completely disassembled. The lock cylinders are chromed also and also can pit. The pits are difficult to repair in this metal. I believe that some of the sedans of the era may have used the same door handle casting? It may be worth your while to at least find some good used handles without pits. I am sure original handles new are extremely expensive. The 280-SL had two types, the early with the single cut key and the later with the reversable, double cut key which also is used on all the other locks and ignition. A temporary fix is to put the right handle on the left and visa-versa. They will interchange and often times the undersides of the handles are in better condition.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
