Author Topic: Soft top color (Read 36987 times)

rwmastel · « **Reply #25 on:** March 16, 2005, 23:37:31 »

quote:
Originally posted by gugel

1. Neither GAHH nor Miller's carries a green soft top. What's a good, reasonable source for a green Sonnenland top with tan inside?

I would assume you can get what you want from one of these people on our Suppliers Database:
http://www.sl113.org/data/show_table.asp?table_name=usr_parts_and_service_suppliers

Will Samples (S&S Imports, Dallas TX)
Gernold Nisius (SL-Tech, Kennebunkport ME)

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

knirk · « **Reply #26 on:** March 17, 2005, 03:01:09 »

Chris,
you can also check out the German supplier Klaus Hermann Mayer http://www.cabrio.de
They can deliver at least 4 different greens for Euro 575.-

Per G. Birkeland
69 280 sl aut 834
Norway

66andBlue · « **Reply #27 on:** September 23, 2007, 22:02:00 »

The data card for my car lists option 727 which indicates that it came with a "white gray" (or light gray) soft top = MB color: 132 (see: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=DataCard.SofttopColorCodes).
My current soft top is a kind of dark blue that IMO doesn't go well with the "light blue" (hellblau) paint and eventually I would like to go back to the original. However, looking at the GAHH web site it shows as color 132 a "mauve/black" that doesn't look gray at all.(http://www.gahh.net/smp-v20-c09-a.php)
Is there any one out there who has a car with a 132-colored soft top?
Or perhaps a picture of a car with this color?

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

jacovdw · « **Reply #28 on:** September 24, 2007, 02:06:38 »

A little late, but my 230sl has the following:

Body - DB268 dark green
Hardtop - DB158 white grey
Interior - cognac leather (2196)
Softtop - beige (730 on datacard)

Unfortunately the previous owner changed the softtop to black

So I am also going to replace my softtop with one that would match the original as close as possible.

Regards,

Jaco van der Walt
1964 w113 230sl
1975 w114 230.6

Ann · « **Reply #29 on:** September 24, 2007, 13:07:26 »

quote:
Originally posted by 66andBlue

The data card for my car lists option 727 which indicates that it came with a "white gray" (or light gray) soft top = MB color: 132 (see: p)
Is there any one out there who has a car with a 132-colored soft top?
Or perhaps a picture of a car with this color?

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

**************************************************************************
my response:
What about requesting samples of several colors?

You wouldn't purchase anything else so important without seeing it in person IMO. Decorators/Remodelers do this all the time.

Before I had the flooring replaced in my home I called Congoleum (who makes a great wood-look vinyl BTW) and they sent me a big box with several of the colors I was interested in- FREE! Great customer service idea- they got a customer for life.

Ask them for a *large sample* piece of the colors you'd like. They might be more accomodating than you'd imagine.

Alternatively- when I got the carpet replaced in my 280 SL and had three choices (and NO time to order samples) I asked the installer his professional opinion on what color. We had the German green-black, Charcoal, or Black. He chose Black. He was right. It made a huge difference.

Ann

'70 Euro 280 SL silver
'06 BMW Z4 Montego Blue
'98 Jeep Gr.Cherokee (125K mi.)

114015 · « **Reply #30 on:** September 25, 2007, 16:11:23 »

Chris,

You can go with every softtop color you like. Several matches were possible for a given color (here: 268).
Have you ever considered a green softtop? It was very well available for our cars and looks superb with your "dark green".
Ivory or light grey would also look great.
Your choice.
Not all suppliers have all available "Sonnenland" colors on hand, so it might be worth to look for several suppliers.
Definitely dark green Sonnenland canvas is still available.

Best

Achim
(Magdeburg, Germany)

114015 · « **Reply #31 on:** September 25, 2007, 16:16:19 »

Chris (& others),

BTW, "wenig gewünscht" does not automatically mean that this option code was rarely ordered. The softtop colors are always in the "wenig gewünscht" box since too many choices (I believe 7 or

were available for our cars. Furthermore, no special option field was reserved on this "generic" empty data cards before they were specifically used for an SL or sedan ...

Best,

Achim (with 720 in "wenig gewünscht")

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #32 on:** September 25, 2007, 18:02:25 »

I have seen a ****e 280SL with dark green interior and dark green soft top. It was stunning! My Havanna Brown 230SL has a dark brown soft top and the contrast with the Light Beige interior looks great. I can only immagine how wonderful a dark green SL with cognac interior would look like with a dark green top! The darker top would also be much easier to care for as it would not show staining so easily.

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

Garry · « **Reply #33 on:** September 26, 2007, 06:23:47 »

Have just replaced the soft top on my 268 dark green 280 sl and happy with color of Beige. Door trim still to be completed!

Garry

Download Attachment:

280 SEP 07 005.jpg
83.19 KB

Garry Marks
Australia
69 280SL Manual
02 320ML
05 A200

66andBlue · « **Reply #34 on:** September 26, 2007, 09:40:11 »

quote:
Originally posted by Ann

my response:
What about requesting samples of several colors?

Ann,
of course, but that wasn't my point.
I am trying to find out what the original M-B 132 color (weissgrau) looks like.
After several phone calls with GAHH someone who appears to know more than just answering phone requests for samples verified that their color codes/numbers have nothing to do with those originally introduced by Mercedes.
So, who has an original soft top color chart that shows #132 (weissgrau/white gray)?

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

gugel · « **Reply #35 on:** October 16, 2007, 17:06:38 »

Finally decided on a soft top color! Here are a couple of photos; the top color is fairly accurate (on my screen) in the side view:

Download Attachment:

SoftTopS.jpg
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Download Attachment:

DSCF0133PS.jpg
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Black was too dark for me, didn't really want green (the whole car is green enough already), and beige or tan looked washed out and would get dirty easily. So I decided on rust color. I got the correct Sonnenland fabric (expensive right now because the Euro is so high), and even a rear wimdow with the Mercedes logo.

The only trouble is, now I'm almost afraid to put the top down, for fear of wrinkles.

Chris Earnest

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #36 on:** October 16, 2007, 17:48:23 »

Wet it with cold water once - no need to soak it - just wet it. Let it sit out in the sun to dry. This should take up any of the wrinkles remaining on the side. Keep the top up for a week or two to let the flap at the base of the top to set its shape.

Always store the car in the garage with the top up. Put it down only when you need to. This will decrease the possibility of wrinkles. Use some thick plastic, like an extra large heavy duty zip-lok bag, on each side to prevent damaging the fabric and the rubber soft-top compartment seal when putting the top up or down. Cut the fingers off of a latex glove to use like a sock over the little rubber pads on the inside of the uprights on the soft-top frame. This will prevent the rubber from blackening the tan headliner material when the top is folded up in the soft-top compartment.

The biggest problem with storing the car with the top down for any length of time is that the flap at the base of the top can be deformed inside the compartment, but it will keep its shape if the top is kept up most of the time (like when you're not driving it!).

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

Douglas · « **Reply #37 on:** October 16, 2007, 21:06:08 »

Don't forget about the little dents you tend to get in the plastic window from folding it up and down. Look closely. You'll see them when you're looking for them. (Yes, ignorance is bliss.)

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

nick350 · « **Reply #38 on:** October 16, 2007, 23:41:19 »

I saw a green car with a red soft top, it looks amazing.

Garry, that combination of light roof and dark car looks great. What a brave decision, very stylish. Actually, your car looks really good.

al_lieffring · « **Reply #39 on:** October 17, 2007, 07:48:56 »

quote:
Originally posted by 66andBlue

quote:
Originally posted by Ann

my response:
What about requesting samples of several colors?

Ann,
of course, but that wasn't my point.
I am trying to find out what the original M-B 132 color (weissgrau) looks like.
After several phone calls with GAHH someone who appears to know more than just answering phone requests for samples verified that their color codes/numbers have nothing to do with those originally introduced by Mercedes.
So, who has an original soft top color chart that shows #132 (weissgrau/white gray)?

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

Alfred

When I got my 66 230sl it still had the original top, or what was left of it. It was the grey white color, At that time the only colors available in aftermarket tops were black or tan Haarz canvas. or German cloth in black, dark brown or blue.

The tan was several shades darker than the grey white, and was too "warm" a color to go with a blue car, I went with the blue German cloth.

I havn't seen top samples anywhere that come close to the old grey white color, I just got my new top in last week, I got blue again, but in the Stafast material this time, after 30 years my mental image of the car, it has a blue top, No point in changing things now.

Al Lieffring
66 230Sl
New blue top just arrived
new gas tank on order

66andBlue · « **Reply #40 on:** October 17, 2007, 15:07:07 »

Al,
the shop owner who sold me my carpets in Germany thinks that she might be able to get me the original gray material. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

J. Huber · « **Reply #41 on:** October 17, 2007, 20:39:04 »

quote:
Originally posted by gugel

Finally decided on a soft top color! Here are a couple of photos; the top color is fairly accurate (on my screen) in the side view:

Download Attachment: SoftTopS.jpg
78.08 KB

Download Attachment: DSCF0133PS.jpg
75.36 KB

Black was too dark for me, didn't really want green (the whole car is green enough already), and beige or tan looked washed out and would get dirty easily. So I decided on rust color. I got the correct Sonnenland fabric (expensive right now because the Euro is so high), and even a rear wimdow with the Mercedes logo.

The only trouble is, now I'm almost afraid to put the top down, for fear of wrinkles.

Chris Earnest

Hey Chris. I like the top! Looks sharp. Before you put the top down, I'd ask yourself if you had issues with the old one pinching or scraping as it went into the case. If so, (and even if not), I'd recommend some kind of plastic "shoehorn" for protection. My version can be found on this long and winding thread...
http://index.php?topic=6680,soft-top,plastic

James
63 230SL

Garry · « **Reply #42 on:** December 30, 2007, 06:42:23 »

I have a question on paint color.
The pictures here are quoting DB268 but appear to actually be DB291 Dark Green and not DB268 Blue Green.
I ordered some touch up paint quoting DB268 thinking that my car was that but the paint I got was lighter and similar to the photos and the DB 291 color. Now I am confused?

Garry

Garry Marks
Australia
69 280SL Manual
02 320ML
05 A200

Peter van Es · « **Reply #43 on:** December 30, 2007, 07:33:35 »

Pictures on the internet are notoriously difficult to compare... too many factors out of our control (such as your monitor settings, my graphics card settings, etc).

Have a look at this topic in the Technical Manual http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=DataCard.PaintCodes and compare the paint chips against the car photographs... it will tell you how difficult it is.

Peter

1970 280SL. Also known as 'admin@sl113.org' and organiser of the Technical Manual.

Garry · « **Reply #44 on:** December 30, 2007, 18:11:10 »

I agree Peter, however if you look at the attached alternative paint colors for 1969 Merc. from paintscratch.com and I have deleted most to get to a reasonable file size,

Download Attachment:

Colors 1969 Merc.doc
63.98 KB

and the colors on the Technical manual then there is a major difference not explained by monitor variations. As I said, I ordered color 268 as per the chart and the color I got is exactly the same as the color of the car in this thread which is nothing like my color in the following pic.

Download Attachment:

zoomed.jpg
59.35 KB

I have just done a bare metal respray using 268, I think, and neither the paint I got from the touch up paint shop not the colors on the Tech Manual are matching in any way? Dont know what I have got for touch up but I bet it would match the initial color in this thread.

Garry Marks
Australia
69 280SL Manual
02 320ML
05 A200

Peter van Es · « **Reply #45 on:** December 31, 2007, 06:20:55 »

Well, the technical explanation is that:

http://www.paintscratch.com/ uses a matching of a colour code (consisting of 3 values for Red, Green, and Blue, ranging from 0 to 255 -- because of the way computer monitors display colour) to represent a colour. Whilst that may appear accurate, in reality it is not at all realistic, and certainly not even close for metallic paints.
In our Technical Manual we use pictures of chips, which leads to small variations in colours, also due to the encoding process of pictures. However, for metallic paints it leads to much more accurate representations of colour.
Check out this Wikipedia article on Colour Theory.

I have had a look at the colours you have: 268, dunkelgrün or dark green is called "blue green" by Paintscratch.com. The paintscratch sample has a colour of #0E2D27 which represents 14 Red, 45 Green and 39 Blue. The Technical Manual sample is average colour #1B4C2F which is 27 Red, 76 Green and 47 Blue. In the picture below I've overlayed the Technical Manual paint sample (on the left, which is lighter because if you add the values together the total is higher, which indicates more brightness on your monitor) with the Paintscratch colour (on the right).

When looking on the website of Standox, the supplier of original 268 paint, their formulation is as follows:

Code: [Select]

category : Passenger car 
car maker : MERCEDES 
code : 268 
color : DUNKELGRUEN 
from-to : 1957-1972 
panel : 73769 
paint system : Basislack 
formula date : 08.08.96 
amount : 1.0 litres 
  
Tint code    Tint name   Mass (g)   Cumul. (g) 
MB573        SMARAGD     594.7      594.7 
MB563        SCHWARZ     254.9      849.6 
MB570        WEISS        76.5      926.1 
MB588        AZURBLAU     14.9      941.0

Which doesn't actually tell us much since it is not in RGB... but it's got a relatively small component of blue. Hence I think that paintscratch is probably making their 268 paint too blue.

Additionally, I would imagine that most owners know what colour their car is. I think the car in Gugel's post (which does indeed look very dark) was probably taken on a very overcast day in the shade.

Hope this helps...

Peter

1970 280SL. Also known as 'admin@sl113.org' and organiser of the Technical Manual.

66andBlue · « **Reply #46 on:** September 24, 2008, 23:08:05 »

quote:
Originally posted by al_lieffring
... When I got my 66 230sl it still had the original top, or what was left of it. It was the grey white color, ...

Hi Al,
I am reviving this topic since I am still looking for a gray/white top fabric and also because I noticed a 280SL on eBay with such a top.
From what you remember is that close?

GAHH has only two gray fabrics available but both of them have a black interior lining, although with the correct square pattern.
So here is a question for all the historians, or"originalists",and the interior decorators out there.
Was the interior color of the Pagoda tops always tan? :?:
What would you think of a black headliner and a parchment white upholstery?

hauser · « **Reply #47 on:** September 25, 2008, 00:10:51 »

Alfred, have you tried Gernold? In the past he has been able to find hard to get colors from Germany and has GAHH make the top.

jameshoward · « **Reply #48 on:** September 25, 2008, 04:54:34 »

Hi Alfred,

I think you're familiar with the company - we may have discussed them before - but having just had a quick squiz at their website I think that www.cabrio.de off some greys in sonnenland. Maybe worth a try?

I got one of their tops end of last year and I can testify to the quality of their work (I know they cut and make for many other firms) and their customer service.

Their site has some colours, and I'm sure they'll send you a sample.

JH

al_lieffring · « **Reply #49 on:** September 25, 2008, 06:28:27 »

quote:
Originally posted by 66andBlue

quote:
Originally posted by al_lieffring
... When I got my 66 230sl it still had the original top, or what was left of it. It was the grey white color, ...

Hi Al,
.....From what you remember is that close?....

Alfred

I'd say yes, that looks as close to the original top color as anything I have seen.
I would think the grey white top could be found with a tan headliner, I don't think you would be happy with a black headliner and your white uppholstery.

Al

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Author Topic: Soft top color (Read 36987 times)

knirk

jacovdw

Ann

Douglas

nick350

al_lieffring

hauser

al_lieffring