Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items => Topic started by: 71Beige280SL on October 14, 2012, 20:43:02
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I picked up my car yesterday after a complete restoration of the interior. I couldn't be happier. It took the better part of four weeks but, it was worth the wait. I never thought a 41 year old car could have that new car smell. Actually, with the cognac leather, it is better than a new car smell. I wish I could bottle it! I put a new top on as well. It turns out the previous owner had used a few incorrect bolts/nuts for the top. The top now stores with minimal effort. See pictures attached.
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/images/71beige280sl/img0211sxs.jpg)(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/images/71beige280sl/img0213byb.jpg)(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/images/71beige280sl/img0214ztz.jpg)
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Beautiful restoration, not sure about the cup holder though :D
Enjoy.
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Its funny you say that. I knew someone in the group would mention the cup holder! :D The cup holder is not attached in anyway! It just sits on the carpet and easily removed. It's wide enough that it keeps my coffee secure.
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Hi, really like your carpet, can you post a closer photo plse. Is it square weave, where did you source it from plse?
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Beautiful, really nice
one question, does the ac unit usually come in black or is it the same color of the leather trim?
enjoy,
all the best
Basem
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It is indeed beautiful; very, very nice.
I see you have the 'short-skirted' or perhaps 'original style' top (which looks terrific, may I say). Mine came with a good quality replacement top of the larger, 'skirted' style where the bottom edge is over an inch longer than needed to contact the body, and so flares out all around. I accepted this without a thought until reading in this forum that perhaps they all used to look like yours does now, and were comprised of less fabric as well - - whether fewer layers or lighter weight is not clear. Having an air-cooled Volkswagen history where the tops were hefty multi-layered affairs to the point where they provided decent winter heat retention and approached the legendary air-tightness of the beetle sedans when new, I was surprised to find myself considering that mine might be all wrong. And when it was suggested that all that material was the reason it was difficult to stow the top, and the cause of the damage that simple stowing causes, I began to think that maybe the softtop compartment had been designed with sufficient room for the original and proper top after all.
Reading that yours now stows with minmal effort, I wonder what's your (and others') take on this issue. And who's marketing this great-looking top, please? [I see Haartz doesn't list Mercedes prior to 1972.]
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It is go-go-gorgeous. I am a new owner and I wish my 280 sl cognac interior looked half as nice. Can you recommend the shop and is it close to Florida?
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Beautiful, really nice
one question, does the ac unit usually come in black or is it the same color of the leather trim?
enjoy,
all the best
Basem
Basem,
I might stand corrected here but believe I have only seen black.
Kevin
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It is go-go-gorgeous. I am a new owner and I wish my 280 sl cognac interior looked half as nice. Can you recommend the shop and is it close to Florida?
I had my interior done by a one-man shop in Pompano Beach if that helps.
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71Beige,
Your car looks terrific. Great pics of the interior...outstanding! Just curious, what's your paint code number?
Kevin
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Great to see that another Pagoda looks again like back in the glorious days.
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looks a very nice job well done!, doesn't your wife mind you having the car in your bedroom!
Neil
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Stunning :)
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I am traveling this week but, will send a close up photo of the carpet over the weekend. The company I used for the restoration was Edgetech in West Harrison, Indiana. The owner, Jon Edgerton was great to work with. He restores the interiors on only high end classic cars (I consider our Pagodas high end!). He is also a classic car show judge so he has an eye for detail. He has restored 280s, 350s and 190s over the years. Also Jaguars, and a few T-Birds, etc. While my car was in his shop, he had a $300,000+ Packard where he was hand crafting the leather interior and soft top. Beautiful. I thought that he had originally ordered my interior kit and soft top from Gahh but, I was wrong. He works with a small company out of California that only sells to businesses not directly to consumers. You are welcome to call Jon at 812-637-0061 and speak with him. The quality of the leather and soft top is superb.
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Basem,
I believe my air conditioner is stock. Having said that I have seen this configuration wrapped in the interior color but, I believe that was an owner addition. Other members may be able to tell you if the wrap was a dealer option.
Regards,
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Kevin,
181H Light Beige is the color.
Regards,
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Nice! When you grow tired of posting interior shots, take a few of the exterior!
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Basem,
I believe my air conditioner is stock. Having said that I have seen this configuration wrapped in the interior color but, I believe that was an owner addition. Other members may be able to tell you if the wrap was a dealer option.
Regards,
I'm going to try again. Here's a photo taken during the dash disassembly for radio repair last week. You can see that the AC matches the interior (more or less). A previous owner removed the leather from the top of the dash and what remains is vinyl underlayment. I haven't gotten up the nerve to fix the dash yet, it's the last of the interior to get done. My car is the same color as yours in and out, btw.
Gerry
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I like the color a lot. My hubcaps and hard top are supposed to be brown (480 I think?) but the previous owner painted them 181. My winter project will be to get those parts off to the body shop for a respray. Actually, I am a little torn on this. I like the uniform look but, I want the car to match the data card.
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Rutger,
Here is a close up of the carpet in my car.
Regards,
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/images/71beige280sl/l1000213.jpg)
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I am glad you enjoyed our work. I actually have a CD with step by step pictures of this car being done. We worked with John on this project and I am glad to see it get so many positive reviews.
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It does look nice.
Here in the UK the A/C is an unusual option. On the one car that I have restored that had it I took the trouble to have it trimmed in matching leather and I do believe it helps the A/C to look more original and in keeping.
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I should add that I have a car here that has a very old soft top on it and the material is very different. It's more like a canvas than mohair and certainly is easier to open and close and doesn't foul the seal at the stowage cover.