Leather interior restoration

[Steve.k]

While my Pagoda is off our salt encrusted slushy roads for the winter, I’m sending her to an upholstery shop to replace the MB Tex and vinyl with all leather.   I’ve gathered all the precut pieces and panels for all the usual places (door panels, kick panels, rear quarters, deck lid, dash and windlaces). 
My first question is what was leather and what was vinyl in an original leather interior from the factory?   Second question is, am I compromising the integrity of the car if I cover those vinyl pieces with leather?   Specifically I’m talking about the sunvisors, door handles, and the A pillar cover.  Was the glovebox interior fitted in leather originally?  What about the horn pad?
I’m also having him install seat warmers.  I’ve read the thread about that and the installer does lots of these in historic cars and will install the appropriate relays and concealed switched.  I have the 55 amp alternator so I’m covered. 
Any advice or experience is welcomed. 

[specracer]

Im no expert, but have a leather car that I have been working on the interior.

All of the pieces you reference are wrapped in leather, with the exception of horn pad, and sun visors. The door handles, a pillar are leather. Cant remember on interior of glovebox.

Optional leather brings a LOT of leather.


EDIT, as mentioned below, leather inside glove box.
Clarification: door handle / pull on passenger door is plastic, arm rests are leather

(door panels, kick panels, rear quarters, deck lid, dash and windlaces). 
My first question is what was leather and what was vinyl in an original leather interior from the factory?   Second question is, am I compromising the integrity of the car if I cover those vinyl pieces with leather?   Specifically I’m talking about the sunvisors, door handles, and the A pillar cover.  Was the glovebox interior fitted in leather originally?  What about the horn pad?

[Pawel66]

If the car was leather, glovebox was too. The way the seams were done needs to be observed.

Also some reading here: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Interior/Glovebox

You may also want to search for posts talking about glove box pad. A lot of info with further links here: https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=28255.msg204393#msg204393

[MikeSimon]

My car has leather interior and the headrests are not covered with leather. They may have been redone or installed later, don't know.

[specracer]

2 possible dead give aways that they have been replaced, is if they are filled with foam (vs  the crunchy "horse hair" filling), and if the grommets are not there (access to get a socket to tighten or loosen the headrest pivot point)

My car has leather interior and the headrests are not covered with leather..

[Steve.k]

Aha, that explains it.  I always wondered why some had the grommets and others didn’t.   However, having said that, there are aftermarket replacements that do have the grommet

[Steve.k]

This is helpful. My installer didn’t think the A pillar was covered, he mentioned that there’s a screw hole.   Thanks for clarifying this.   I am going to get the horn pad covers with t(e matching leather and I would still like to cover the sunvisors so everything matches and feels the same. 

If anyone has leather covered sunvisors, I’d appreciate any photos to assist my installer with the details. 

[Pawel66]

I do not think the sunvisors were leather...

My experience is limited, by I have come across tan and white-grey sunvisors, but vinyl. Tan or grey depended on upholstery (I have dark blue upholstery and it was very difficult to get the grey sunvisors).

Early/late sunvisors - there were differences in holders and presence/not presence of mirror (not sure if shape was different).

But, correct me please if I am wrong, it was vinyl covered.

[mrfatboy]

I believe that the sunvisors were all vinyl.  They are a different grain than normal mb Tex also.

[Pawel66]

I started digging a bit and here is what Technical Manual talks about: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Interior/Sunvisors

[Steve.k]

Pawel,

Thank you for looking.  I’ve read those previously and am aware that the original sunvisors were always vinyl.   I know what I want to do is not historically correct, but I hate the feel of the vinyl when I flip them up.   
I’m looking for any references to anyone that has had them covered. 

[mrfatboy]

I have a Dave Gallon leather sunvisor story😜

When I bought my car in 1995 one of the first things I did was cover my sunvisors in leather.

I met Dave thru the old SL yahoo website. He very generously came over to help me diagnose a cold start issue.

He noticed the leather sunvisors and said "What is this? These are not original. Get this crap off your car".  I did. Lololololol 😂😂😂😂😁😁😁😁

[Benz Dr.]

190SL's had leather sun visors. I wouldn't put leather visors in a 113.

[Steve.k]

The purists speak.  I’m on the fence now.  How about the horn pad?

[Bonnyboy]

There was a whole thread on recovering the horn pad in leather which I contributed to a while back.  Personally I think it looks classy and if you takes your time it should turn out well.    I made a cover out of a patina'd leather jacket and it didn't look near as nice as the piece of leather I got from Michaels as per the instructions on this site.

[Mike Hughes]

Like the sun visors, the horn Pad was always Vinyl.
 
I'm not saying that a leather covered horn pad or sun visor might not feel more luxurious today, it just wasn't what M-B installed on the line.

[specracer]

2 possible factors, availability (or knowing where to find them, as upholstery kits dont come with them), or cost, as 2 headrests is $120.

https://www.budsbenz.com/catalog/230-250-280-sl/v-upholstery/V240-021

Aha, that explains it.  I always wondered why some had the grommets and others didn’t.   However, having said that, there are aftermarket replacements that do have the grommet

[Pawel66]

Horn pad: I think the conclusion from my very old research was that for 280SL I should have the factory black vinyl pad. I just bought new one from Mercedes.

[Pawel66]

Pawel,

Thank you for looking.  I’ve read those previously and am aware that the original sunvisors were always vinyl.   I know what I want to do is not historically correct, but I hate the feel of the vinyl when I flip them up.   
I’m looking for any references to anyone that has had them covered.

Steve, of course! You do them the way you like them, certainly.

I am just more in the "factory" camp. 

[Steve.k]

I realized that my concerns are rather trite.  I’ve concluded that the car I bought was not “factory correct” and pure to begin with.  When I got it, it had Euro headlamps and euro bumpers but it was a US deleivered car in 1971.  Furthermore, the previous owner had replaced the MB Tex seat covers with leather.  Part of the attraction for me were those things, as I prefer the clean look of the euro spec Pagodas.     
Finishing the rest of the interior in leather is fine and sort of “correct” but the car was originally an MB Tex interior.  I am also changing the door pockets and armrests to the Euro style as I prefer them.   So the sun visors are a minor point in the grand scheme of things and I want the car for myself, to enjoy for years hopefully, not for resale value.  And I’ll always have the vinyl sunvisors, so if the next owner prefers them, he can have them. 
For now, I’ll put leather where I want it and keep all the old bits in a box for the next guy.   

By the way, when I visited the Bracq website for the calendar I noticed they offered a center armrest.  I went ahead and ordered one in the marching parchment leather and it is beautiful  and will look great.  If anyone’s interested in what they look like, chime in and I’ll post some photos.  It arrived a couple weeks ago but I haven’t put it in the car yet since it’s stored away. 

[Steve.k]

Dan, I had a question for you that I tried to send by PM but it says your box is full. Just wanted to ask about your shop.  Can I email you?

[zak]

Steve.k, I would be interested in seeing the center arm rest if you have a pic.

thanks,

jz

[Steve.k]

Here are some photos of the Bracq armrest.  The leather is buttery soft, like my driving gloves....
Sorry I don’t have any pictures of it in the car since she’s stored away from the ice and snow..

[Bonnyboy]

Oh my, what a lovely piece of jewelry.  Valentine days is coming - I wonder if my wife would spring for something so lovely.  Just getting those hinges would be enough of a prezzy for me.   

[Steve.k]

It is quite an exquisite accessory.  Here’s a better photo of the hinges and another which shows how the leather wraps around the bottom and the frame is scalloped so that it fits into the existing center console without marring the finish.  Makes it easy to remove and install as the occasion requires. 
I’m wondering if our concours judges out there would accept it given the Bracq connection.