'69 280 Restoration Questions

[Brad_Ayer]

We are just starting to restore a 1969 280sl and have two questions:

1. Was the under side of the hood originally black or the body paint color?

2. Where can you find replacement door panels? 

Thanks!

[badali]

Underside of the hood should be body color as well as the inner areas.  The trunk should be black.  Another member will probably know about the door panels for you.  Post some pictures as you go.  There are a few others that have on the sight and look very helpful.
Brad

[thelews]

Besides Ebay, entire doors (not just skin) can be ordered from MB (Germany).

[bogeyman]

If you are referring to the interior door panel boards, GAHH sells them.  Address is in the suppliers section of the tech manual.

[Brad_Ayer]

Thanks for answering my earlier questions.  I do have another question about the Grill Ring...The grill ring that is on the car currently has been painted over with the same paint color of the car.  Should I have the current painted grill ring refurbished or just buy a new grill ring?

[114015]

Grill Ring?

Are you referring to the large grill frame on the front, about a yard wide? Or only to the center star?
Anyway, both are originally chromed, not painted.
The center star is certainly worth to be rechromed if not broken or heavily pitted.
The grille surround is worth to be recovered as well but this depends on its condition.
The grille frame is made of thin brass; if it is heavily bent or dented a new one might be the only choice. Both parts a pricey.

Maybe it's already sufficient just to remove the paint by chemical stripping. It's worth to try that first.

Good luck,

Achim

[glenn]

Brad, While you're working on the 'outer beauty' of the SL, -- Just a few points of inner beauty-grease all those fittings(king pins, etc), make sure the seal is on the oil filter stub(if it is missing, no filtration), lubricate the wiper axles, adjust the valves(.003 and .007), grease linkage pivot bushing under manifold, check/fill differential, clean tank/filters, etc.  This avoids repair cost items each in the potential thousand dollar range.  Visit PUB in '11.  PPP- Perfect Pagoda Perambulations. 

[Brad_Ayer]

I think the vehicle I am having restored is a euro car. Does anyone know if these are more rare or if there is a way to know for sure? 

Thanks,
Brad