Author Topic: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes  (Read 2274 times)

Rahul

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • Bermuda, Devonshire, Paget
  • Posts: 205
  • 1971 280SL automatic #571, parchment
Hi, I've seen a few cars advertised for sale that feature chrome strips midway along the door panel (photos attached).

Out of curiosity were these original options for the car, or aftermarket accessories? Personally I'm not a big fan of them, but always a matter of preference I guess.

Same question for the painted pinstripes, were those a factory spec item?

Thanks!
1971 280SL auto #571 over parchment

johnk

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Avon
  • Posts: 1150
Re: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2020, 00:38:25 »
No the mid door strips were a popular after market add to a lot of cars in the mid seventies. Primary purpose was to prevent door dings. I put several on cars when I was younger but not for 40 years or so.
John Krystowski
Avon Ohio
1968 Euro 280sl under restoration
2016 Jag F-Type R sold june 2021
1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS For sale
2008 E350
2007 GL 450
2019 BMW 540

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4108
Re: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2020, 15:30:20 »
The pin strips were not a factory option.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

neelyrc

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, AL, Birmingham
  • Posts: 1205
Re: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2020, 23:24:56 »
Same question for the painted pinstripes, were those a factory spec item?

I have rarely seen these on 113s.  They were/are very popular on 107s.  These were dealer and aftermarket supplied, never from the factory.
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)

114015

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Tecklenburg
  • Posts: 2075
Re: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2020, 00:46:56 »
Quote
Out of curiosity were these original options for the car, or aftermarket accessories? Personally I'm not a big fan of them, but always a matter of preference I guess.
Same question for the painted pinstripes, were those a factory spec item?


Value -diminishing aftermarket add-on. ::) :P

In DE we tend to say "pimp my car" stuff.  :-\
Achim
(Germany)

lowpad

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, CT, New Preston
  • Posts: 221
Re: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2020, 13:12:39 »
I can only imagine how the living and deceased DB designers react when they see these awful strips on their cars.  They just ruin (IMHO) the lovely delicate lines of our cars.  I do understand that our aluminum doors are sensitive to dings (especially now that every other car is a SUV), but it’s easy enough to find a safer place to park (which I often do, much to the annoyance of my wife). Sorry for the GOM (grumpy old man) rant. 
1966 230SL (6/66 build)
French export
4-speed manual
158 Exterior / 040 Hardtop
2001 SLK230
1996 Porsche 993
1991 Acura NSX

Shvegel

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Cleveland Heights
  • Posts: 2978
Re: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2020, 03:25:14 »
There were certain things that American car sellers used to make additional profits.  Side moldings, rustproofing, floor mats and pinstriping were common profit centers.

Mike Hughes

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, VA, Blue Grass
  • Posts: 1718
Re: Original options? Mid-height chrome door strips and pinstripes
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2020, 15:07:36 »
There were certain things that American car sellers used to make additional profits.  Side moldings, rustproofing, floor mats and pinstriping were common profit centers.
... and radios.  A lot of Pagodas came over sans radios and antennas so dealers could pick up a little profit installing them.  Thus many Pagodas like mine were originally delivered with Blaupunkt radios instead Beckers on this side of the pond, complete with correct knobs and Hirschmann antennas (usually manual).
- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havana Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)