Kangol seat belt color

[scoot]

Whatever.

[lreppond]

Here’s another interior matrix for the last models of 280SL’s…this is after the switch to a coarser grain MBTex. Mine is actuallly in this range of production.  From what I can see, seatbelt colors were related more to carpet color. 

[ejboyd5]

Don't disregard the "Sonderwunch" (special request) notation. Dark brown may have been possible, but was not standard issue.

[lreppond]

I believe the special request refers to the seatbelts themselves NOT their color.  Although seatbelts were mandatory and included with all cars sold in the USA at that time, they were offered as optional equipment in other countries. 

[Pawel66]

Here’s another interior matrix for the last models of 280SL’s…this is after the switch to a coarser grain MBTex. Mine is actuallly in this range of production.  From what I can see, seatbelt colors were related more to carpet color.

Thank you for sharing this document, it has been looked for for some years now! I posted earlier factory specs for numbers 113044 up to 12089. We have been looking for later specs - for example when we were discussing colours of the sill rubber pads ( I see dark blue here on your document!).

Now we have the specs for remainder of 113044 (including my car, actually, just with leather upholstery). It is a great find!

Do you happen to have the second part of it - with leather upholstery?

[lreppond]

Pawel,
I only saved those sheets that referred the colors of my interior.  I have the same information but for leather interiors and all the colors are the same.   As far as I’ve seen, the riffelgummi (door sill mats) for w113.044 were either light beige, dark grey or dark blue depending on the specific interior.  I cannot remember seeing them in brown, red or dark green but that’s not to say they didn't exist.  I ordered new mats from a company in Germany that has reproduced most available colors:  ok-gummiwerks.de. I got this website from a posting here by Wallace Wheeler.  The color match for my car is spot on including the heel mat.  They show many more colors on the website: including green,red, nougat, Brazil, grey beige, etc etc.  I am unclear if these were available on w113’s or not. 

[lreppond]

Here’s the colors ok-gummiwerk.de has available.  These are the heel pad design. The sill mats are simply ridged but available in the same colors. 

[Pawel66]

Thank you! If you come across the same document but for leather upholstery - I would love to get a copy.

As for the sill ribbed rubber pads - the document I enclosed says "dark blue" for my upholstery and so I did during the restoration. But I was not sure if this was correct as the document is for slightly earlier cars. I see "dark blue" in your document for MB Tex upholstery - I am thinking high chances are that leather upholstery also had then "dark blue". Based on the discussions we had, I was ready to give up and admit they were black (or dark grey again maybe). Now I think they were dark blue.

I also spent a lot of time to find light grey sunshades - light tan was all that was available at that time. Finally found the light grey ones...

[Pinder]

Really good information.  I can only add my two cents based on the only two examples I know about. I agree some belts fade but the two examples I have I asked everyone in my house hold and they all say it looks brown. Maybe after a certain time period they switch to charcoal or black.

[dirkbalter]

Just to follow up. Got my seat belts back from snake-oyl. It took a while but they are looking great.

[Charles 230SL]

My early 230 wasn't ordered with seat belts (no option 43) and I asked Bud's Benz to install them when they trimmed the interior (photo). Just curious, if the car had been ordered with seat belts, would the buckles have had Mercedes stickers vice "Kangol" stickers?

[dirkbalter]

Originally, my car wasn’t delivered with belts with either. Someone installed them at a later date. The belts were in bad shape and the buckles didn’t have stickers any more. I don’t know if the stickers should have the Kangul logo but I like the star in it.

[Charles 230SL]

Dirk, those belts look great. I think the MB star looks better too..

[DaveB]

My early 230 wasn't ordered with seat belts (no option 43) and I asked Bud's Benz to install them when they trimmed the interior (photo). Just curious, if the car had been ordered with seat belts, would the buckles have had Mercedes stickers vice "Kangol" stickers?

US-delivered 230s typically came with dealer-installed lap belts, branded 'Hickok, American Safety Equip. Corp.' They have a plain chrome buckle (no Mercedes star) and a coarse-woven material in several colors. They look great but of course wouldn't be as safe as a modern three-point system. The attached photos are from a current ebay auction.

[Charles 230SL]

US-delivered 230s typically came with dealer-installed lap belts, branded 'Hickok, American Safety Equip. Corp.' They have a plain chrome buckle (no Mercedes star) and a coarse-woven material in several colors. They look great but of course wouldn't be as safe as a modern three-point system. The attached photos are from a current ebay auction.

thanks Dave, I appreciate the insight. My car was built in Apr 1964, so if it had been ordered with seatbelts, they would have been Hickoks installed by the dealer (thanks for clarifying this for me). respectfully,, Charles

[neelyrc]

My car was delivered at the factory with black Kangol belts installed and they are still black, not faded to a different color.  These have no MB markings on them.  Pretty generic in appearance.  My car is dark olive in color.  Could be that there were different colors for different body color or interior selected.

[dirkbalter]

Ralph,
out of curiosity, what does the sticker on the front of the buckle look like on yours?

[neelyrc]

Dirk, I am in Italy for a few months and away from my car so can’t show you right now.  I searched through the pictures on my computer but do not seem to have one with me showing the front of the buckle.  Certainly not a star.  My rusty memory says the same as shown by Pinder in Reply 11 of this thread. 

I’ll check in November!!!

[Jonny B]

Dirk, if it helps at all, my 280 SL (Sept 69 build, 1970 model) has the magnet as Ralph refers to in Pinder's post. The set in my 250 SL, has the star as your photo shows.

[wwheeler]

I had my '68 W111 three point belts done at Ssnake-oyl (yes there are two ss). They look amazing and are just the same type as dirkbalter's. 

[dirkbalter]

I had my '68 W111 three point belts done at Ssnake-oyl (yes there are two ss). They look amazing and are just the same type as dirkbalter's.

I agree. A lot of attention to detail. They actually recreated the manufacturer tag, re-chrome…..

[neelyrc]

They look great, Dirk!

[ejboyd5]

Whatever.

It may not matter to you, but in the future there will be some to who this discussion will prove valuable as it provides "real time" authority from what will become "back in the day." 

[dirkbalter]

Not that it matters, but I just pulled out the original belts from the rear on my 70/108.
Star stickers. Lol.

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

Charles230Sl notes in his post about not ordering seat belts as is noted in box 43 on the Data ard.  I have never seen any documentation referring to Box 43. (including the Tech Manual)  Can anyone point me in the right direction with explanation of Box 43

JB