Author Topic: Interior Restoration...Finished!  (Read 14277 times)

71Beige280SL

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Interior Restoration...Finished!
« on: October 14, 2012, 20:43:02 »
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.

- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

w113dude

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2012, 21:46:11 »
Beautiful restoration, not sure about the cup holder though  :D
Enjoy.

71Beige280SL

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2012, 00:00:49 »
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.
- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

rutger kohler

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2012, 07:07:04 »
Hi, really like your carpet, can you post a closer photo plse.  Is it square weave, where did you source it from plse? 
1969 280 SL Manual gear shift
1972 280SE 3.5 auto

Sableco

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2012, 07:13:31 »
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

pagoden

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2012, 07:32:40 »

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.]       
1968/69 280SL, just+100k mi, manual 4, 3.46, both tops, 717/904

ktherring

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2012, 20:36:31 »
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?

KevinC

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2012, 02:45:00 »
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

KevinC

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2012, 02:46:44 »
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. 

KevinC

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2012, 02:49:50 »
71Beige,

Your car looks terrific. Great pics of the interior...outstanding! Just curious, what's your paint code number?

Kevin

Flyair

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2012, 05:52:48 »
Great to see that another Pagoda looks again like back in the glorious days. 
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

Neil Thompson

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2012, 06:26:25 »
looks a very nice job well done!, doesn't your wife mind you having the car in your bedroom!

Neil
1964 230 SL RHD DB304 Horizon Blue
1957 190 SL RHD DB180 Silver
1988 R107 300 SL RHD DB199 Blue Black
1978 C123 230C 2dr Auto RHD Silver

Alf

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2012, 10:21:31 »
Stunning :)
Alf
'69 280SL. Silver (180 G) with black hardtop

71Beige280SL

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2012, 16:15:12 »
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.
- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

71Beige280SL

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #14 on: October 16, 2012, 16:19:46 »
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,
- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

71Beige280SL

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #15 on: October 16, 2012, 16:23:37 »
Kevin,

181H Light Beige is the color.

Regards,
- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

KevinC

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #16 on: October 16, 2012, 21:26:02 »
Nice! When you grow tired of posting interior shots, take a few of the exterior!

ptooner

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2012, 02:15:24 »
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

71Beige280SL

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #18 on: October 17, 2012, 10:23:36 »
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.
- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

71Beige280SL

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #19 on: October 21, 2012, 12:43:48 »
Rutger,

Here is a close up of the carpet in my car.

Regards,

- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

GermanAutoTops

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #20 on: January 24, 2013, 22:39:28 »
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.

stickandrudderman

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #21 on: January 25, 2013, 18:33:58 »
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.

stickandrudderman

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Re: Interior Restoration...Finished!
« Reply #22 on: January 25, 2013, 18:36:14 »
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.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2013, 23:53:40 by stickandrudderman »