280SL Original Soft Top Photographs

[neelyrc]

Yesterday we participated in an MBCA outing in north Alabama.  About a 250 mile drive including the run to the starting point in the morning and the return home via a scenic (and sometimes wet) route in the afternoon. The event itself being about an 85 mile drive across Sand Mountain to Buck's Pocket State Park followed by a visit to a small private car collection and then on to an open air picnic lunch at the Lake Guntersville Sailing Club Marina (Following appropriate social distancing rules of course).

We started the day sans top anticipating possible afternoon thunderstorms and they started about noon.  The rest of the day was spent with the soft top up and it received a thorough wetting for the first time in memory as we drove through several thunderstorms.  We arrived home in late afternoon in bright sunshine!

The soft top has been put to use only a handful of times over the last 50 years.  I garaged the car overnight with the top left up for drying and pulled it out in partial sunshine for a more thorough drying this morning.  I will leave it in place in the air conditioned garage for a few more days before folding it away again.  I thought a few pictures of the 51 year old top might be of interest to others and I am attaching them here. 

 

[neelyrc]

......And a couple of others.......

[zak]

Ralph, it's interesting that your beautiful car came with the green top from the factory.
Black car, green soft top and cream interior
Is that a special order ?
What is your hard top color ?

Planning to get back to Italy soon ?

jz

[lreppond]

Ralph’s car is olive green NOT black!   Look at the footer on his comments.  I think it’s one of the most beautiful color combinations ever!