Remember the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing’s plaid upholstery? Mercedes-Benz just announced that it’s bringing the fabric back!
The reproduction fabric will be available in blue-gray, red-green and green-beige color combinations. Mercedes-Benz says it’ll be identical to the original material.
“All three color combinations will be made to original interior specifications using an odor-neutral wool yarn,” says Automobile. “In order to reproduce the 300SL’s upholstery, Mercedes-Benz Classic worked with the design department at Sindelfingen, Germany, as well as the original wool supplier to ensure that the reproductions are as accurate as possible. The wool is woven into a four-ply, double weave twill that Mercedes says is a ‘very robust material.'”
Of the three color combinations, the blue-gray fabric was the most popular. In fact, nearly 80% of 300SL models ordered between 1954 and 1957 featured the fabric. Red-green and green-beige were only requested on 14% and 6% of models, respectively.
Mercedes-Benz said its decision to reintroduce the fabric was based on popular demand.
“This reproduction of the checkered upholsteries is Mercedes-Benz Classic’s response to the popular request from owners of the legendary sports car for the original specification of the interior material,” the automaker said in a statement.
Auto upholstery shops can order the fabric from any European Mercedes-Benz dealership. The automaker is still deciding whether or not to also make the fabric available through its North American dealerships.
To order, you’ll need the following part numbers:
- Blue-grey plaid design (L1): A 000 983 44 86 / 5000
- Red-green plaid design (L2): A 000 983 44 86 / 3000
- Green-beige plaid design (L3): A 000 983 44 86 / 6000
Of course, the fabric isn’t cheap. It’ll cost you roughly $229 per yard. (ouch!)
Way back in the early 80’s, I was doing a complete 54 300SL exactly like the one pictured when after pulling off two covers on the seats, I found the original plaid seat cover. The wool was actually in perfect shape so I called the customer and he was ecstatic. I cut the wool out of the cover carefully and had it dry cleaned. I then sewed it onto new leather and re-installed it. He went on to win at concourse-DE-elegence in Pebble Beach that year. It was especially nice for me as the No. CA chapter of the Gull Wing Club made me an honorary member and the customer gave me a $1000 bonus ( a great deal in the 80’s) I went on to do at least 4 more gull wings and had a lot of fun attending their October-fests party’s. Great memories.
I wonder if the patterns and colors have a significance like Scottish kilts used to.!
At our last gullwing we did, I had also found the original fabric covers under the leather covers of a restoration in the seventies. I had a supplier for the tartan pattern, so I begged the customer on my knees to make me the equipment in the state of delivery. At that time, customers always wanted the”higher-quality” leather interior. The trend towards original fabrics did not emerge until 2010. This is how the customer got his leather equipment in the colour “helios”. I am still annoyed about it today, because it could have been such a perfect car…..