Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items => Topic started by: Pengue on August 08, 2020, 13:21:50

Title: Pin Striping
Post by: Pengue on August 08, 2020, 13:21:50
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
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: thelews on August 08, 2020, 13:43:31
no
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Jonny B on August 08, 2020, 15:10:08
Allow me to also give the concise answer - No.

These cars exude elegance just for what they are.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: kampala on August 08, 2020, 15:17:28
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.

Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Pengue on August 08, 2020, 15:29:14
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!
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: sandcrab59 on August 09, 2020, 01:16:52
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
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: doitwright on August 09, 2020, 03:09:13
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.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: wayne R on August 09, 2020, 05:31:08
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---.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: FastWgn on August 09, 2020, 05:43:05
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....
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: sandcrab59 on August 09, 2020, 20:16:46
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
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: mnahon on August 09, 2020, 21:15:59
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
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: neelyrc on August 10, 2020, 02:33:16
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?




Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: mclewis on August 10, 2020, 13:52:13
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.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: FastWgn on August 10, 2020, 14:35:28
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!
 ;D
Imagine the cross between these two:
(https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-etomsukn/products/8965/images/15431/tigerwalk-580photo__47126.1416426761.1280.1280.jpg?c=2)
(https://shop.amnh.org/media/catalog/product/cache/207e23213cf636ccdef205098cf3c8a3/p/l/plush_mint_tiger_core_01.jpg)
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Jonny B on August 10, 2020, 15:21:12
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.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Mike Hughes on August 10, 2020, 17:11:38
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 . . .
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: hauser on August 10, 2020, 17:15:06
No 
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: 49er on August 10, 2020, 21:14:42
 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
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: neelyrc on August 13, 2020, 04:55:59
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?
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: yves on August 13, 2020, 11:50:43
Not my taste  :o :o
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Jonny B on August 13, 2020, 15:02:59
Ralph, if I am judging the 107, I would make a deduct for the pinstripes. Probably 1/4 - 1/2 point.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Cees Klumper on August 13, 2020, 23:07:29
No, additionally because the lines are already heavily compromised by the unsightly bumper overriders and side markers ....
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: sandcrab59 on August 15, 2020, 20:18:14
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
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: RobSirg on August 23, 2020, 00:43:06
Hell no😱
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: quantumorbit on April 03, 2024, 00:17:31
This 280SL being auctioned on BAT has red pin stripes against its silver body

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-mercedes-benz-280sl-125 (https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-mercedes-benz-280sl-125)
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: neelyrc on April 03, 2024, 01:27:39
I eventually had them buffed off my 107 (Reply 11 above) and have been very happy with the result. For the 113, I would never consider adding.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Jonny B on April 03, 2024, 03:23:33
These cars NEVER had pinstriping from the factory. If you like the look, go for it, it is your car. If you are looking for authentic, no stripes.

It is your car, you can do what you want, and what you think looks good.

I admit that I like the look on a 107, but never on a 113.
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: 67230SL-Vinny on April 03, 2024, 05:17:12
From an investment point of view, best to stay strictly original, no pinstripe.

From an enjoyment point of view do whatever pleases YOU.
30 years ago when I had my 67 230SL repainted in original 040 black with a modern 2-stage base & clear-coat, I added a hand-painted red pinstripe. It already has too many no-no's to win anything at a Mercedes concours event, like the later model wheel covers, RH side view mirror, 3-point seat-belts, side markers, none of which belong on a 67, not to mention my non-Mercedes battery.  ::)
However, I've won best of show at non-Mercedes events where they judge it compared to other classic high-end marques, not based upon strict authenticity. They liked the way it looks, I like the way it looks, and
I especially like the way it drives, but the judges of course wouldn't know about that.
(https://i.imgur.com/TnQPDra.jpg)
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: RAY on April 03, 2024, 17:37:54
No !!!
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: mdsalemi on April 04, 2024, 12:45:28
Pin Striping [and other modifications...]

When our beloved Pagodas were new 50 years ago, and even 30 years ago when Vinny added the pin stripes, I would suggest that they didn't have the cachet (the cars that is) that they hold today. They never sold for six figures, they were plentiful on the used market, and they were "just" attractive, aspirational cars. At that time, nobody could or would predict the penchant for complete originality revered today. Owners can and did do minor things to dress up or change their cars. The late Bob Geco's (one of our group's early members) who got his car from his late father, had chrome "fender spats". Others have pin stripes. Others hopped on the wire wheel bandwagon. None of these cosmetic additions are that drastic that they cannot be undone with a little effort, so any "devaluation" is subject.

I think Vinny's red pin stripes on black are quite nice as shown. Maybe not for me, but if I bought his car I wouldn't touch them--they add just a little tasteful something to an otherwise beautiful car. I would not go out of my way today to add them, but may 30 or 50 years ago, I would have. When I bought my new 1979 E21 BMW 320i, it was white with rather large Alpina tape stripes. I didn't order them, [but they may have been a factory option or a catalog option from BMW] but when the car arrived at my dealer, he offered to remove them. I took a look and said, no, let's keep them. They always received unsolicited high praise.

If you look at my signature, you'll note my daily driver is a 2023 Ford Maverick. This is a small pickup truck. There are two forums for that truck--the Maverick Truck Club and the Maverick Forums. While bearing little resemblance to our group here, there are active forums for this new vehicle introduced for the 2022 model year. I am baffled and astounded at the same time at the lengths new owners go to for modifying their new vehicles. While this Maverick will NEVER be a Pagoda 50 years from now, the amount of changes people are making to their Mavericks to "personalize" them is remarkable. They raise the suspension. They lower the suspension. They use larger tires, they use smaller tires. They remove the nice alloy wheels and get other nice alloy wheels. They add underbody protection plating for off road use. The more invasive are removing parts of the IP, and substitute different IP parts from other Ford vehicles; notable are a number of swaps from Ford Escapes. The most daring of the modifications involve getting software for a laptop, plugging in the laptop to the OBD port, downloading the trucks thousands of lines of code for all of its computer modules, and re-writing patches of code to do or not do certain things. I can only imagine screwing up something so bad in that latter modification that you'd have to sheepishly tow the car to the dealer to "make it right".

So do what you like. If you decide now or later you don't like it, undo it. With AI today there's probably a way to accurately visualize your car with whatever modifications you like, including pin striping!
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: Benz280 on April 04, 2024, 12:54:00
Its like Bundt wheels, some yes and some no .
Title: Re: Pin Striping
Post by: 67230SL-Vinny on April 04, 2024, 20:52:01
Well said Michael.
From both a historical perspective, and current-day perspective.

Young drivers today often spend more money on upgrade wheels & tires than they spend purchasing their used car or truck itself. I can't imagine how awful they've made the ride and handling.

As far as Bundt Cake wheels, on my many W123 and W126 cars I've owned I always ditched the Bundts and upgraded to a later Mercedes smooth-face wheel they offered on later models for the same chassis.
I reasoned, if Mercedes thought the newer wheels were better, more modern and stylish, why shouldn't I ?  Thus, the later style wheel covers on my 67 230SL.  8)  But I suppose the same reasoning is justified on those who added Bundts to their W113's. -JMO