Pin Striping

[Pengue]

My car is a medium blue and I am thinking about adding a pinstripe.  Although I don't want to diminish the value by taking away for its originality, I think it would add a touch of elegance to the car.

What is the general consensus . . . to pinstripe or not to pinstripe?  Thanks for the input.

Dan Pengue

[thelews]

no

[Jonny B]

Allow me to also give the concise answer - No.

These cars exude elegance just for what they are.

[kampala]

No on the pin stripping

However - since you have a USA model, you could put white wall tires next time around to add a touch.

[Pengue]

The picture I posted is a couple of years old and I did reverse the tire to show the white walls.  Makes a huge difference!

Thanks for the input!

[sandcrab59]

As to whitewalls.
My 220D and 240D from 72 to 74 all have whitewalls.
It really sets off the car. Black tires and at one time tires with a  red stripe stink.
It adds nothing to the car.
Tom

[doitwright]

I have seen a few W113’s with a pinstripe along the edge the starts off the subtle crease of the headlight surround trim ring. While I would not favor one on my own car, I did not feel the stripe made the car look bad. Mock one up with tape and see how you like it.

[wayne R]

Dan , what you can do is, there is pin stripping available, not with permanent paint, but in
nylon stick on rolls the lenght of a car, alll different sizes, colours, we have them here but can not remember
if you have them in USA, any parts store, they are very good, easy to apply,and
heres the good thing  you can remove them anytime.
so you could try one of those  to see if you like it or not,then decide.
They are used alot in New Zealand  on second hand car sales  that are about 10 -20 years old.
My answer on  a Pagoda is ---NO---.

[FastWgn]

Dan - it's your car, you do what you want to it! If you want to have a pinstripe - go for it! If you want a mint green tiger statue as hood ornament - go for it!
Whatever makes YOU like YOUR car more. Don't worry about the resale value - these are never going to be $M cars anyhow (which is great! we want to be able to drive our cars!)

I'm not a fan of pinstripes in general, and echo @wayne R above - try the removable type first. That said, unless you are steady hand, may want to give it to a professional to do, it's harder than you think to attach well and linear, and our eyes are very sensitive to find the linear imperfections in a straight line like that.

BTW - even some German cars did (and do) get pin stripes from factory. I have a BMW M5 that the first owner had a pinstripe added to - at the factory and it's under the clear coat!
Which I only realized when I asked my detailer friend to help me remove it (after I tried and failed to remove it myself - didn't surprise me since it looked so flat and perfect). No can do.
Then asked first owner, and yes, he had it made. Paid $3k for it too....

[sandcrab59]

Another comment:
All 3 of my 300SD's have pin stripping and they look great.
But on a 280SL I think it would not look good.
Tom

[mnahon]

Well, I'll be contrarian and say, by all means, it does look good. I have one on my car; it came on it when I got the car 25 years ago, and I've always liked the highlight. Pinstripes were always 'de rigueur' on any sports car worth its salt in the sixties. Pictures of mine below.

As FastWgn says, whatever you like is right; though I admit I might draw the line at the mint green tiger hood ornament...

Meyer

[neelyrc]

No! For me, no stripes on a 113.

I have a 107 (560SL) that I bought used and it came to me with a pin stripe which provides a nice contrast to the Arctic White finish and matches the interior leather.  I think it fits on this car.  It has faded and I am considering renewing it.

I have tried to determine if the striping came from the factory with no conclusive answer.  Apparently all the pin stripes on the 70s and 80s MB cars were dealer applied.  Can anyone verify this?

[mclewis]

The pin stripes were dealer applied on my family’s ‘70s and ‘80s Mercedes-Benz sedans. The painter would “sign” his work by painting two small footprints on the lower left corner of the trunk lid.

[FastWgn]

As FastWgn says, whatever you like is right; though I admit I might draw the line at the mint green tiger hood ornament...

Meyer

Never know until you try it!
 
Imagine the cross between these two:

[Jonny B]

Ralph,

I must admit that the pinstripe on a 107 fits better. I don't believe the pin stripes were from the factory, just a common add on. For full disclosure on my bias for the pinstripe on a 107 -  I had a 1980 450 SL, china blue (medium blue non-metallic) with dark blue leather, it had the pin stripes.

[Mike Hughes]

Getting past the issue of yes or no, if you use 3M tape stripe you will have a vast variety of colors and styles (single, dual, thin and thick) from which to choose and the added advantage of being able to instantly remove the stripe if you don't like it after all . . .

[hauser]

No 

[49er]

 The apple green pinstripe on my Brewster green 1930 Model A ford coupe, which were an original color combination for the car, looked pretty good . A friend of mine at work who bought a '70 SL a year after me (white with red interior), put a red pin stripe along the crease. Was not a good look IMO then and now.

John

[neelyrc]

Ralph,

I must admit that the pinstripe on a 107 fits better. I don't believe the pin stripes were from the factory, just a common add on. For full disclosure on my bias for the pinstripe on a 107 -  I had a 1980 450 SL, china blue (medium blue non-metallic) with dark blue leather, it had the pin stripes.

Jon, when judging a 107 by MB rules, do you make deduct for the somewhat common pin stripes?

[yves]

Not my taste 

[Jonny B]

Ralph, if I am judging the 107, I would make a deduct for the pinstripes. Probably 1/4 - 1/2 point.

[Cees Klumper]

No, additionally because the lines are already heavily compromised by the unsightly bumper overriders and side markers ....

[sandcrab59]

I stand corrected.
I uncovered my 280 & 250Sl and they both have pinstriping from prior owners.
MY silver 280SL with a black stripe looks real good.
Mine looks like Mnahoo above. Mine Silver with red interior.
I guess it depends on the color. Probably some colors will not look good with pin striping.
Tom

[RobSirg]

Hell no😱

[quantumorbit]

This 280SL being auctioned on BAT has red pin stripes against its silver body

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-mercedes-benz-280sl-125