Author Topic: Coupe with vinyl top option!?  (Read 6100 times)

66andBlue

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Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« on: January 10, 2013, 06:25:54 »
On Ebay is a 220SE listed with a vinyl top that the seller claims was a dealer installed option:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/290841928872
Is that correct or "seller speak"? Just curious - I have no interest in the car.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

hkollan

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2013, 08:47:37 »
Hi,

According to the sellers desription, the vinyl top was put on by his uncle in 1964.
Earlier in his description he mentions the factory two one color option that the car came with.

Hans
Hans K, Cuenca, Spain
1968 280 SL 387 Blue met., parchment leather
1971 280 SL 462 Beige met, Brown leather
1968 280 SL 180 Silver, Red leather
1964 300 SE Lang 040 Black w/Red leather
1985 500 SL 735 Astral Silver w/Black leather
1987 560 SEC 199 Black met., Black leather

w113dude

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2013, 13:21:43 »
I have seen this before on coupes, once up on a time must have been a fancy addition instead of just a paint job.

Jonny B

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2013, 16:00:46 »
I am scratching my head that a vinyl roof could be a factory option, but I am traveling and don't have access to the sales lit/options list at home. "Dealer installed option" very possible, but could really mean anything. In the 60's who knows??

My more basic question, why would you do that to such a beautiful car. One detail I especially like is the front door armrests, which you can see in one of the photos, just a great swoopy detail.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

Bill Sgro

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2013, 04:53:38 »
Back in 1971 my Mom bought a new 300SEL 3.5 from the MB dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, Dowd Mercedes.  The car was 050 white with cognac leather and it came with a vinyl top.  As remember it (I was 11 at the time), it was installed by the dealer.  It was such a nice job I always thought it had to be done at the factory.  I still own the car and it still has the same vinyl top.  It is the only Mercedes I have ever seen with a vinyl top.

My 113, that was made 1 month later in April of 1970, was 181 light beige both upper and lower but the hardtop (not the hub caps) was painted brown by the dealer for the original owner. 

It seems those sorts of things were done in those days to customize our cars more often than we might think.
1970 280SL
1970 300SEL 3.5

Jack Jones

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2013, 15:03:49 »
The vinyl roof option has not been available from any manufacturer for some time now but you still see newer cars with them. If the customer wants a vinyl roof, regardless of the make of car the dealer will oblige. It is all about giving the customer what they want and adding to the bottom line.
Jack Jones                                                                                                   
1970 280SL 4 Speed
1984 280SL 5 Speed

114015

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2013, 17:10:12 »

Quote
I am scratching my head that a vinyl roof could be a factory option

Quote
It seems those sorts of things were done in those days to customize our cars more often than we might think.


Absolutely correct. Cusomized in both cases. See the relevant data cards of these cars.

Vinyl tops were never-ever available for our cars of that period.


Achim

Achim
(Germany)

Jack Jones

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2013, 18:13:14 »
Lots of vinyl tops in Florida and usually driven by a white top. :D
Jack Jones                                                                                                   
1970 280SL 4 Speed
1984 280SL 5 Speed

ja17

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Re: Coupe with vinyl top option!?
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2013, 01:52:55 »
Yes, most likely a few were done when the cars were new, by the dealer, not the factory. It could have even been a pre-purchase request by the buyer to the dealer.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback