Kangol seat belt color

[dirkbalter]

Hallo,
I am having a set of Kangol seat belts for my car restored. The ones in the car were some aftermarket belts that I am replacing.
When purchased with the car, were the belts always black or were the belts matched to the interior color?
Thank you.

[Leester]

I'm no expert with the seatbelts but I bought new Kangols from the source in England and mine are black.  Lee

[Pinder]

Both my cars with brown interior are brown.

[dirkbalter]

Well, I am not sure anymore. I originally asked for a maroon or dark red color. The restorer called me and asked if I am sure. He said, he believes that the belts were always black.

[Jordan]

My blue interior had blue belts.

[lreppond]

They were offered in various colors.  Go the the tech manual.  Select color codes and scroll to the very bottom.  It will show an example of how different interiors had different seatbelt colors.  Mine are original and they are dark brown. 

[scoot]

My understanding is that Kangols were always charcoal black, and often faded to brown or a purple-ish color over many years.  I have had LOTS of Kangols restored but unfortunately the guy who webs them for me is not doing it anymore.  I have all of the parts.  LOTS of them.  I'm considering having Snakeoil (sp?) do a set for me, I have never used them before.

When I was more in the business/hobby of Kangol belts I had some done in tan, red, maybe blue.  But contrary to what previous posters have stated, I'm not aware of them ever being in a "color" originally.

[scoot]

My blue interior had blue belts.

I would like to see a photograph of that.

[Pawel66]

My understanding is that Kangols were always charcoal black, and often faded to brown or a purple-ish color over many years. 

I am not sure. Enclosed is the specs for late cars. I thought some time ago that 7034 was some indeed dark, but grey colour. But as you see 7034 dark grey across various upholstery colours, you start to think that perhaps this dark grey is what we think was black. I would appreciate someone commenting on this.

I would also not be surprised if the seat belts were various colours to become all black (or dark grey) towards the end of the manufacturing period.

[scoot]

I am not sure. Enclosed is the specs for late cars. I thought some time ago that 7034 was some indeed dark, but grey colour. But as you see 7034 dark grey across various upholstery colours, you start to think that perhaps this dark grey is what we think was black. I would appreciate someone commenting on this.

I would also not be surprised if the seat belts were various colours to become all black (or dark grey) towards the end of the manufacturing period.

I would consider "dark grey" and "charcoal black" to be close enough to be called the same color.    I have pillaged dozens of Kangols from cars at junkyards - they have always been the same color except for fading.  I'm the only one I know of that has had them reproduced in "colors".  Also, from the spec sheet it doesn't really specify Kangols.  Kangols were made in England and used on lots of cars, although Mercedes was the most common.  FWIW I have buckles for Kangols with Mercedes, Kangol, Fiat, Jaguar, BMC, and _maybe_ Lambo logos...   Always charcoal black/grey.

[dirkbalter]

Just picked up my windshield from the classic center and asked the same question. They told me that they (Kangol) were always black, when installed by MB.

[Pinder]

see picture attached. Looks dark brown to me.

[scoot]

see picture attached. Looks dark brown to me.

Looks like charcoal to me.  But I still believe that there is one color.  Your mileage may vary!   I want to see a pic from the guy with the blue ones...

[Pawel66]

As for the picture - mine looked the same, i think this may be discoloration with age and the sun.

Sometimes I have serious doubts as for the precision of information from. Both the US and the German CC.

Scoot - you can be correct, I think. It is like with the inside trunk paint colour. It is black, but it is grey.

I also would like to see the picture of the blue ones or true brown ones.

[Jordan]

Just had a quick look and my blue belts are Hickok, not Kangol.

[dirkbalter]

The reason I started asking was that the seat belts in my 108 appeared to be dark red, going along with the interior. However, they could also have been faded over the years.
I am leaning towards always been black now.

[scoot]

The reason I started asking was that the seat belts in my 108 appeared to be dark red, going along with the interior. However, they could also have been faded over the years.
I am leaning towards always been black now.

Yep.  That's what they look like when they fade to purple.

[ejboyd5]

Same church, different pew.  My 1972 280 SE 4.5 has been in the family since new and came with front and rear Kangol belts that are definitely black. I can't remember seeing Kangol belts in any other color but perhaps, with the application of sufficient coin of the realm, anything might have been possible.

[dirkbalter]

Thanks guys.
Black it is.

[scoot]

Here a set I had made in tan in 2009...

[lreppond]

I know exactly what Scott is taking about when he says all were black.  I’ve always thought mine were black as well until I read that they were “dunkelbraun” in an old DB color matrix for my interior.  Whether black or dark grey or dark brown, the differences are so subtle as to make it a moot point.  If you have a black steering wheel in your w108, black will look correct.  The pic of what I’ve attached is the dunkelbraun.

[Pinder]

Same color as mine. on two cars. Dark brown. one  of the cars was stored in a garage since 1985. I really doubt the sun got to it.

[Pawel66]

If you read in the documents that they were dunkelbraun, then most likely they were dunkelbraun. This means to me they were not always black.

The most common colour or the colour palette offered might have varied over time.
 
If other documents say dark grey - it might have been colour very close to black.

[scoot]

People are welcome to believe that they were dunkelbraun if they wish.  I believe they were charcoal and faded over the last 50 years.

[lreppond]

Here’s the interior  color matrix information from DM that I was referring. My interior is 141. At the very bottom is seatbelt colors.  According to this document they were dunkelbraun.