[gnecker]

Hi all,

After much googling, I've finally come across this terrific forum. Needless to say, this is my first post and I need some help (after parsing through the 280se search for the last hour).

I have recently acquired a 1969 280se convertible (280/se/c/8 on the tag). It is a one owner car with about 117k miles, moderate exterior rust bubbles, but is in otherwise good condition for a 30 year old car (as seen by someone who really does not know too much about these cars). Engine runs great and everything in the car works.

Here are just a few of my questions... can anyone tell me if this make/model/year is considered "collectible"? The main reason for the question is for me to decide how serious I need to take the resto... I'm trying to resolve if this car is the kind that I need to get serious about keeping the same paint colors (dark grey on tan fwiw), interior, etc...

Also, I'm sure there are some SD folks around here... can anyone recommend a place (other than the fantastic place in Irvine) for me to take this car into to have checked out and maybe brainstorm some ideas on the resto?

Thanks for the help in advance.

-GL

 

[gnecker]

Thanks all... and yes... 40 years old. Lost a decade there somewheres...

So I've been doing a bit of digging and have a few pictures. Engine is a 6, so I think we are looking at a '69 111, right?

Had the engine checked out and but for a few minor leaks, it is in good running order. There are some rust spots, but it is not as bad as I thought it might be (spare tire area, couple of wheel wells edges, etc...). Found a bit of bondo work and a new front left rocker. Otherwise, looks pretty solid. And it has the tool bag and manuals which is slick (btw... do the new cars still have owner maintenance schedule to 250kms? ;-p).

Here are a few more shots...

One real pressing question... if/when I bring this car in for paint, how serious should I be in maintaining its original color?

Thanks for all of the continued help.

 

[gnecker]

Made a mistake. The car is actually a 1968. Got it registered today and noted the mistake.

Any idea what the going rate should be for a proper paint job on this kind of project (SoCal)?

 

[gnecker]

280se update...

Greetings all...
Thought I would post this by way of an update (and in hopes of getting additional questions answered).

Paint and chrome are done (or very nearly so) and the car just went in for a new interior. My big question of the day is this...

The car currently has black carpeting that must have been redone at some point. Is there any way to tell what the original color might have been? Is there a website that shows the original color combinations from the factory? We have the leather resolved, but the carpet is bugging me. If it is black, that's fine. Just want to make sure.

Thanks for all of the help and advise!

 

[gnecker]

Fantastic advice guys! Thanks! I will call the classic center on Monday.

Here is an album with some prelim before and after shots.

I have a ton more shots coming and will post them when I get the whole project done.

Some details for those interested (The goal for the car is to be a weekend driver... that also looks sharp. ):

For the paint, I did some homework on the paint before I settled on the guy who did the work. I have friends who restore Porsches and BMWs, so their advice has been real useful. Looked at a ton of jobs from various shops. I chose a friend who does a mixed bag of painting from hot rods to bikes to a stunning (Pebble quality) 356. Real quality work (and also, thanks to the current state of economic affairs, had a ton of time on his hands to do the job properly and for less than he would normally), but definitely not a $30k job. It was a bit of a chance going with a non-"Mercedes guy", but the bottom line for me was the time and attention to detail he promised (and ultimately delivered). I'd be curious to let someone who knows more about these cars take a look at this paint job for comment.

Chrome (all 52 pieces of it ) was done by Pacific Plating here in SD. I am still floored by the job those guys did. It all looks brand new.

Interior is being done by a guy in Costa Mesa right now who came highly recommended.

Expect the finished car to be done in early October.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[gnecker]

Time for another update...

Got in touch with the Classic Center as you all recommended. What a great place to deal with! Prompt and very very helpful. I now have the data card on the card and have learned quite a few things. The exterior color (173 - Anthracite Grey) is original. The top and carpet are not. The top was 742- Light Grey when new and the carpet was a Dark Grey Velour.

My question this time around is to see if there is any place that sets out the meanings of all of these codes. Some I have figured out, the Classic Center guys told me about the carpet colors, but I'd like to try and look this stuff up on my own.Is there a centralized spot that tells me what all these other codes mean?

Thanks again!!

 

[gnecker]

Figure it is time for another update on this project...

Interior is nearly finished on the car. Thanks to the Classic Center, we are going back to the original carpet color (Dark Grey) and sticking with the same original leather color (parchment).

I also opted to re-do the top (gulp!) and am going back to the original color there (light grey). I'm a bit nervous going back to the original color on the top as I liked how the black and anthracite looked, but it needs to be done and I'd rather hedge on the side of originality.

I'm hoping to have the car back from the interior shop by the end of this month.

Now for the begging for help... ;-p

When I was having the chrome done, the guys who did it took the front grill apart. If you know the car well, you'll know there are small strips of chrome on the exterior of the grill. There are tiny slotted pins that push into the grill. I'm missing most of those (@*&# pins. Anyone have a thought as to where I might be able to find a dozen or so (aside from making them myself)?

Thanks as always for the help. You guys have proven invaluable!

 

[gnecker]

Filing this under the old axiom "in for an inch, in for a mile..."

Now that the interior is looking all nice and sparkly, the wood in this 280 is now looking like it needs to get done (especially since I have everything torn apart... might not have a better chance at getting it done!).

Does anyone out there have a good name for auto wood restoration? As the car is now torn apart in Southern Cali, I'd like to find someone in the area. Google has turned up a few names, but I'd like some first hand experience if possible.

And one other question (and I'm a bit worried about this answer)...

The car came to me with a black top. It was original from the factory with "742- Folding top fabric, Light Grey". I'm replacing the top on this car now and am trying to make the call of whether to go back to the light grey or to stick with the black. I've taken a look at samples from GAHH and am a bit confused as to which one "Light Grey" is. Anyone have any insight? Any thoughts of how important going back to the original color is in the grand scheme of things?

Help?

 

[gnecker]

Closer and closer... leather is done. Top is in and will be installed by next week. Still trying to catch all the last minute details.

Anyone know where I might be able to pick up one of these (chrome air vent with swivel stopper)?

The picture is of the one on the passenger side and I need the one for the driver's side. It was covered by an aftermarket VDO cruise controller that I've opted to pull out. The chrome air vent must have been removed. The classic center does not have any.

Thoughts?? Help?!?

 

[gnecker]

BTW, what part number is that? I couldn't locate it exactly on EPC... but like this one right?

That's the one. I'm looking for the same in the driver's side.

I have access to a couple of parts cars that *may* have it (but I thought I'd see if anyone here had any ideas before I started down the parts car route (that and they are about 2000 miles from where I am atm). I will keep checking Ebay in the meantime.

Mercmad... we did some samples the way you suggested and it just never came out the way we hoped. Made the decision to just have the wood redone and it looks fantastic. I'll post some pix next week.

I love the Anthracite color. Didn't know a metallic one existed, but I bet that will look slick too!

 

[gnecker]

The code on the part is 111-830-0154 according to the classic center. They show up in their inventory, but they don't have them and don't make them any more. Looks like they were in both the 11s and 112s.