Author Topic: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?  (Read 12162 times)

Kayvan

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Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« on: October 13, 2009, 02:45:09 »
Just looked on ebay of 30 SL 113s....15 are white, ivory, light beige?

Is this in line with production totals?

While I  love the white/blue top combination and some rare light greys and Ivory....I cant believe the other colors were not ordered more often?

Esp. Black, Red, Silver, Blue, Anthracite, etc.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2009, 03:12:33 by Kayvan »

hauser

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2009, 04:56:08 »
You may want to ask yourself how many of those 15 started out as white?  However I do agree with you that most Pagoda colors seem to be primarily white and red.

Bob G ✝︎

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2009, 05:34:58 »
Light colors with cream with parment leather and silver seem to be the hot colors  two of the most attrative colors know for these pagodas. Signal red is also hot but a killer with getting tickets.

Bob Geco

Drewtee

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2009, 05:58:41 »
Isn't there a thread about lighter colours being better survivors of the test of time?
« Last Edit: October 13, 2009, 06:03:40 by Drew »
Andy Tee

Rhd 5 speed 728h with parchment interior
White Californian 280sl LHD
W111 3.5 Cab and Coupe both RHD

JamesL

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2009, 12:29:56 »
Not ebay but this one is green

http://www.classiccarshop.co.uk/Cars/mercedes_pagoda.htm

(hyperbole....)
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

66andBlue

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2009, 16:23:53 »
There is a comment on Tom Koellner's web site (http://www.pagode.info/23.htm) indicating that about half of the 230SLs were ordered in a light color. He doesn't indicate the percentage for the 280SL cars but mentions that when red became favored many were repainted.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2009, 16:28:32 by 66andBlue »
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Kayvan

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2009, 16:29:14 »
I went thru the official factory colors list in the manual.

I have never seen that 'Dark Red' color....very nice.

The Metallic blue (387H) is a truly stunning color...anyone here have one?/pic?.  I saw a Gullwing in that combination with red interior and it was very sharp.

I would add: Thistle Green to the list

http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/320980,11311,0,0/photo.aspx
« Last Edit: October 13, 2009, 17:12:15 by Kayvan »

IXLR8

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2009, 23:53:43 »


White shows body imperfections the least. 

Dark colors--including Red--display the wavy metal far more than light colored cars.

Would be interesting to know if these cars were "restored" and painted white for their prospective sale.


Joe

starmelt1

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2009, 04:12:33 »
It may well be that many of the cars often went to a warm weather climate where a light(er) colored car was desired based on heat absorption.   

hkollan

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2009, 07:18:41 »

The Metallic blue (387H) is a truly stunning color...anyone here have one?/pic?.  I saw a Gullwing in that combination with red interior and it was very sharp.

Here's a few pictures of my 1968 280SL in 387 H Blue metallic  w/parchment leather interior.

http://www.pagodentreff.de/diskussionsforum/garage.php?do=view&id=124&garage=176


Hans
Hans K, Cuenca, Spain
1968 280 SL 387 Blue met., parchment leather
1971 280 SL 462 Beige met, Brown leather
1968 280 SL 180 Silver, Red leather
1964 300 SE Lang 040 Black w/Red leather
1985 500 SL 735 Astral Silver w/Black leather
1987 560 SEC 199 Black met., Black leather

Kayvan

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2009, 14:44:08 »
Beautiful car Hans!

mdsalemi

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2009, 15:10:28 »
Why are something like 90% of new MB's either black, white or silver?  What happened to that beautiful palette of colors?

I was recently in a trendsetting dealer, Mercedes-Benz of Saint Claire Shores (Michigan) and was surprised to see that they had a variety of car colors in the showroom.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

RickM

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2009, 15:30:23 »
Would be interesting to know if these cars were "restored" and painted white for their prospective sale.
Joe

Surprisingly enough (at least to me) White is the most "popular" color for new cars.

That makes me wonder; is it the most "popular" or the most manufactured? (Include fleet and rental car sales)

Also, does new car color sales directly translate to most popular resale colors?
« Last Edit: October 14, 2009, 20:49:19 by RickM »

Kayvan

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2009, 15:54:16 »
White is the popular car color overall cumulatively, according to DMV (recently silver blipped up base don on new car sales)

Vanilla is the most popular flavor

White houses the most sales

White shirts outsell others 10-1.

 

al_lieffring

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2009, 23:51:05 »
A Corvette Club member once said to me. "A white sports car is about as exciting as kissing your (own) sister".
« Last Edit: October 21, 2009, 15:01:14 by al_lieffring »

Eryck

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #15 on: October 20, 2009, 04:16:26 »
On this topic, most Pagoda's in Hong Kong are white too!  Some (like mine) was originally white and some have been repainted white.

White has always been my favorite color on cars.  For many years, I recall that white was shunned upon but seems to have made some kind of a come back in recent years.  At one stage, I thought of keeping my car collection all white but one black car scrapped that idea.....

Drewtee

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #16 on: October 20, 2009, 08:10:38 »
I like white on a Pagoda,  but then there are loads of colours on them i love too. It's always nice to see something unusual which is why us owners appreciate pictures of the rarer colours. Also, not sure white photographs very well, a bit one dimensional.
Andy Tee

Rhd 5 speed 728h with parchment interior
White Californian 280sl LHD
W111 3.5 Cab and Coupe both RHD

Flyair

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #17 on: October 20, 2009, 10:16:06 »
On my side, each time I can spot a nicely preserved Pagoda I just stop and admire it, regardless of color.

While red or blue with cognac interior became a popular mix for most renovations, they are never a bore, no question about that.

Having said that, a black Pagoda with black interior would be quite peculiar, but what the hell !!! ;D



Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

abe280SL

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #18 on: October 20, 2009, 18:00:21 »
Go buy a Porsche today and they are all grays, blacks, and silver.  Few exciting reds, blues, or yellows.  25 years from now they will be asking the same question about Porsche colors.
BMWs...I see alot of white ones today, then silver and grays.
Interesting how at different times people go for one color or another depending what brand of car.
abe

Flyair

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #19 on: October 20, 2009, 21:10:55 »
To my amazement, I have actually found one with black body and black interior. It looks great as it is probably freshly restored. Conclusion: any color will do!
  :o
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

Dahlknudsen

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #20 on: October 26, 2009, 18:58:05 »
In Denmark black coloured cars sell at higher value then others... Dont know why, but I like my black VW in that colour!

White has become more popular in recent years, because of the Ipod and other trend producs from Mac!

I do also believe that red is the right colour for a true sportscar, quess thats because most MGs etc in my childhood was red...
Things like that stick!


Richard Madison

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Re: Why are 50% of SLs for sale White?
« Reply #21 on: October 27, 2009, 10:24:57 »
Here is a message from awhile back discussing the colors of the cars in our Registry. About 50% of the cars are reds or whites.

http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=7892.0

Richard M, NYC  Owner of a car with a color that is on about 1% of Pagodas.
1969 280 SL, Tunis Beige, Euro Model (Italy).