Author Topic: 230SL Paint color on underside of body  (Read 6002 times)

IXLR8

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230SL Paint color on underside of body
« on: August 04, 2010, 23:45:00 »
Hi--

I stopped taking parts and stuff off the 230SL, and I am now starting to install new parts and stuff.

As I roll under the car, I am wondering what color the underside of the body should be.  I know the transmission cover plate is body color, but what about the rest of the sheet metal?

I've seen restored cars where the underbody gleams like the top side, but I have seen several original (?) cars with flat black--or is it maybe Body Schutz.

Thanks in advance for your help.



Joe

Jonny B

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Re: 230SL Paint color on underside of body
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2010, 00:02:15 »
there has been several discussions about this, and the overall answer was both (!?) My car has been restored and has the undercarriage as body color.

Use the search function with "undercarriage" as the search term, and limit to only subject line. There is one thread that types to this question. You can also search with the same term looking at the whole message, but I did not try that.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

mbzse

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Re: 230SL Paint color on underside of body
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2010, 07:24:27 »
Quote from: IXLR8 Joe
.../...what color the underside of the body should be.  I know the transmission cover plate is body color, but what about the rest of the sheet metal?
The whole body shell was dipped into primer - this is kind of grey shade.
Then a protective sticky rubberlike plastic material was applied. Then, car body was sprayed in the colour of the vehicle - this resulted in some "fog" of the finishing paint being sprayed from the sides coming in and gradually fading towards middle of car. This is true for all M-B of the sixties. On our W113 pagodas, the area under the doors have the black (deep grey) outer threshold cover plate. Under it, the body was painted black in a strip. Then, a protective wax was applied - basically transparent yellowish, but it has become brown with the years on any car you see today. Finally, if the owner chose to do so, the car could have been treated with a blackish underbody tar, as rust proofing
Below is a text by Vince Canepa of this Forum, which sums it up pretty well
/Hans in Sweden

Vince Canepa quote: "The entire bare chassis was dipped and primed. The primer is grey/green in colour. Then a plasticized (PVC) undercoat was applied. This undercoat was tan.
When the colour coat was applied the wheel wells received a pretty good overall coat, but the undersides (floorpan) received mostly overspray. If you view them from the outside they look body colour. If you view them from the center of the car, a lot of the primer or tan show through. The driveshaft tunnel, above the rear axle and any other areas that would be "shadowed" to a painter standing outside the car are almost entirely primer.
To get an idea of how it would look, a red car would have 80-90% colour coverage in the wheel wells and be pretty much body colour there. Underneath the car would see maybe 40-50% coverage and appear tan/pink from the effect left by the overspray. In the driveshaft tunnel there would be mostly the primer (grey/green)./Vince Canepa"
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« Last Edit: August 05, 2010, 07:45:49 by mbzse »
/Hans S

Shvegel

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Re: 230SL Paint color on underside of body
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2010, 01:55:44 »
Go to the Motoring investments web site(http://motoringinvestments.com/) go to Mercedes for sale and look at the blue 280SL that sold awhile ago for near 100K. It's number 46 and about 30 cars down the list. It is my benchmark for perfect and shows perfectly what everyone is trying to say.

I would give you the direct link but their site doesn't work that way.
« Last Edit: August 09, 2010, 02:10:56 by Shvegel »

IXLR8

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Re: 230SL Paint color on underside of body
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2010, 15:43:16 »
Great!

Thanks to all for the tips and links.

Joe

RickM

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Re: 230SL Paint color on underside of body
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2010, 17:59:14 »
Here are links to a few of the pics mentioned by Shvegel. Nice car!

http://motoringinvestments.com/images/C81_blu/under/ueng1.jpg

http://motoringinvestments.com/images/C81_blu/under/midfttoback.jpg

http://motoringinvestments.com/images/C81_blu/under/midpan1.jpg

http://motoringinvestments.com/images/C81_blu/under/well7.jpg


Here is Wurth SKS Stoenguard in Beige: https://shoponline.wurthusa.com/wurthusa/servlet/CyberVendor/category/G4228734/catalog/group.jsp/

I have two of the Wurth spray guns but I heard that an inexpensive substitute is the Harbor Freight gun (if still available). Ebay also has inexpensive models.
« Last Edit: August 09, 2010, 18:10:36 by RickM »