Author Topic: 280SL Original Soft Top Photographs  (Read 3336 times)

neelyrc

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, AL, Birmingham
  • Posts: 1205
280SL Original Soft Top Photographs
« on: July 27, 2020, 04:40:01 »
Yesterday we participated in an MBCA outing in north Alabama.  About a 250 mile drive including the run to the starting point in the morning and the return home via a scenic (and sometimes wet) route in the afternoon. The event itself being about an 85 mile drive across Sand Mountain to Buck's Pocket State Park followed by a visit to a small private car collection and then on to an open air picnic lunch at the Lake Guntersville Sailing Club Marina (Following appropriate social distancing rules of course).

We started the day sans top anticipating possible afternoon thunderstorms and they started about noon.  The rest of the day was spent with the soft top up and it received a thorough wetting for the first time in memory as we drove through several thunderstorms.  We arrived home in late afternoon in bright sunshine!

The soft top has been put to use only a handful of times over the last 50 years.  I garaged the car overnight with the top left up for drying and pulled it out in partial sunshine for a more thorough drying this morning.  I will leave it in place in the air conditioned garage for a few more days before folding it away again.  I thought a few pictures of the 51 year old top might be of interest to others and I am attaching them here. 

 
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

neelyrc

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, AL, Birmingham
  • Posts: 1205
Re: 280SL Original Soft Top Photographs
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2020, 04:42:03 »
......And a couple of others.......
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

zak

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, NJ, Bernardsville
  • Posts: 450
Re: 280SL Original Soft Top Photographs
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2021, 21:48:13 »
Ralph, it's interesting that your beautiful car came with the green top from the factory.
Black car, green soft top and cream interior
Is that a special order ?
What is your hard top color ?

Planning to get back to Italy soon ?

jz
1967 250 SL
1983 280 SL
2015 ML 250 Bluetec
2007 ML CDI
2004 E 320 Wagon
1999 E300 Turbodiesel

lreppond

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, CA, San Leandro
  • Posts: 602
Re: 280SL Original Soft Top Photographs
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2021, 02:08:02 »
Ralph’s car is olive green NOT black!   Look at the footer on his comments.  I think it’s one of the most beautiful color combinations ever!   
~Len

1971 280 SL
576G red/251 Beige
4 speed manual
Family owned since new (father —> son)