Best color for a W123 300D Classic paint job?... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #16 05-31-2006, 12:32 AM

I believe the only color for your MB is the original color. Yea, there are better colors sometimes, but the best color for any particular car is the original. Too many surfaces to clash with a new color.
Now, when it comes to just a color preference, I must say there are allot of colors for 123's from '77 to '79 or so that I just love. Several rare greens, several yellow's, a kind of orange/salmon... It kind of jazzes me just to think about them!

I must say, from an ease standpoint, and from a Texas summer standpoint, I'm not complaining about having a white one, even if it is now a couple different shades of white, depending on which side you are standing on.....

redbaronph123 · #17 05-31-2006, 05:05 AM

i love the maroon color.. .unfortunately when i had my sedan painted.. it didnt turn out the way i want it..

from red:

to maroon: well.. supposedly....

here's my wagon..
before - olive green:

now: sherwood green (darker shade):

and it is true!.. dark colors are hard to keep clean!..

rs899 · #18 05-31-2006, 06:35 AM

I like the maroon on the W123s with dark blue a close second. If I ever get around to shooting the W116 ( its that color of the universe crap brown now), it will be in dark blue.

Just a word of advice if you are considering shooting it yourself (and I know you are a beginner on this), the lighter colors, especially white , are more forgiving of bad bodywork/prep/spray technique.

Rick

Carrameow · #19 05-31-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

Just a word of advice if you are considering shooting it yourself (and I know you are a beginner on this), the lighter colors, especially white , are more forgiving of bad bodywork/prep/spray technique.

Rick

Do you think i would do anything less than professionally ? ( he he)If you saw the welds on my car, you would say Yes!
For some reason I thought I would be good at it, but they look terrible...I wanted to grind them down and redo them but the good news is that at least they are strong & solid welds , although ugly, and impossible to grind out--it would take days and wear out 2 or 3 grinders...
Thanks for remembering I would try to paint it myself! I did it once before,12 years ago, but that was with lacquer and I used black which isnt a color that has a lot of variations so I did it panel by panel, fender by fender and I wet sanded and buffed like crazy

rg2098 · #20 05-31-2006, 06:52 AM

877 Petrol Green Metallic. A rareish color.

Wodnek · #21 05-31-2006, 07:25 PM

I am re-painting my 85 silver 300D Marine Blue. It is finally in primer. I started last Labor day weekend. I had to fix one jackpoint, fabricate 2 wheel wells, fabricate 2 front corners that were hidden behind the bumper rubbers, and some assorted bottom of the doors patching. Last fall I took care of painting all the jams marine blue. When I am done, I will post pictures. Interior is blue.

redbaronph123 · #22 05-31-2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg2098

877 Petrol Green Metallic. A rareish color.

hmmm.. i like that color.... maybe next time i have my car repainted.

Carrameow · #23 05-31-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wodnek

I am re-painting my 85 silver 300D Marine Blue. It is finally in primer. I started last Labor day weekend. I had to fix one jackpoint, fabricate 2 wheel wells, fabricate 2 front corners that were hidden behind the bumper rubbers, and some assorted bottom of the doors patching. Last fall I took care of painting all the jams marine blue. When I am done, I will post pictures. Interior is blue.

are you doing the work yourself?

engatwork · #24 05-31-2006, 08:53 PM

black with tan interior

Boardmonger · #25 05-31-2006, 08:56 PM

Thistle green is my favorite, but I also likethe orangish red and the very euro avocado green with green interior!

Veloce300DT · #26 05-31-2006, 10:13 PM

Carrameow!

Great color preferences indeeed!
I have owned a 1985 300DT in Midnight blue- and LOVED it. It is by far my second favorite color on a W123. Its rich, dark, reflective, sharp looking, and lends itself to a nice contrast when paired with a Palomino interior.

Orient Red does the same thing, it has a lovely dark and rich quality in indirect lighting- offers great reflective qualities! But it goes beyond that by being bold, vibrant, and eye catching in direct sunlight.

I have owned my Orient Red 300DT for 3 and a half years. I bought it from the original owners in San Diego. This past summer I had my drivers side doors replaced after my neighbor backed into them. Thanks to L.R. Spencer Co. in Burlingame, CA... the car still retains an exceptonal finish. While the car has been garaged all of its life, it had suffered from some minor ageing. So while it was in the shop I had them re-finish my Bundts, dent pro some minor dings that had accumulated while I lived in San francisco, re-sprung and upholstered the front seats, dyed the top of the rear seat back, re-upholster the rear parcel shelf, replace the grille, and have new hand painted pin-stripes applied.

Here is a pic of the car after I got it back from the body shop. They did a great job. The car is still 100% straight and ding free.. showroom fresh.

Orient red is also a little easier to maintain over Midnight Blue.

I just got a rock chhip on my hood, a BIG one (which i have temporarily coated with touch up paint) so I am going to bring it back to L.R. Spencer to have the hood re-painted, the strips under the headlight doors re-painted, and have new headlight doors installed.

there are more pics of the car in my member gallery, check my profile pic as well! Youll see that the whole car looks like it has new paint. I am so greatful that the original owners took such good car of this car!

I also need to get my rear suspension in tuune- new thicker subframe mounts, and new springs so I can restore my slightly saggy rear end. I love the stance of redbarons maroon sedan... low in the front and high in the rear.

Wodnek · #27 05-31-2006, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrameow

are you doing the work yourself?

mostly, yes. My father will paint the body (bodyman since the late 60s), although I did the jams. A freind of his that does metal fabricating helped me with alot of the metalwork. The wheel wells are made from 1/2" cold steel tubing sold in the metal rack of hardware stores. The rounded edge is 1/8" thick and should last the life of the car. I have many good pictures but took them on a 5 megapixel camera, so they are too big to post here. If you(or anyone else) want any just pm me and i can e-mail.
I hope to be done by the end of the month. (June)

Boardmonger · #28 05-31-2006, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veloce300DT

so I am going to bring it back to L.R. Spencer to have the hood re-painted, the strips under the headlight doors re-painted, and have new headlight doors installed.

Installing headlight doors only takes a few minutes, so you can do that yourself and save a few bucks. I can't wait to see that car in person. Hopefully my euro will have a shine like that one day. That and a turbo

Hatterasguy · #29 05-31-2006, 11:22 PM

Veloce300DT next year I will get my SDL's body done right so my car can look as nice as yours!

btw nice Lotus in the back ground.

Personaly I really like the 904 blue over an Anthracite interior. Looks good, and somewhat modern to me. I can say that I was lucky enough to stumble upon a car with a color combo that I would have ordered if I bought it new.

Orkrist2 · #30 06-01-2006, 12:04 AM

Mine's dark navy but I love the Orient red, too. Also, the "petrol blue or green" color looks great. I confess I really like white on any car pretty much, it really shows the lines well. Dark colors are hard to keep clean. Even though mine is regularly waxed, one rain and the beaded water leaves spots all over and I have to wash it again. Good luck on your choice and your work.

Veloce-how did you get your wheels so clean??! Did you paint them?