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Replacing Interiors
By slmarket | November 7, 2008
Q: My 230SL needs a new interior. The original cognac color is attractive but all the replacement cognac materials that I have seen do not match the original cognac color and they are also not very attractive. In your opinion do I hurt the value of my 230SL if I change the interior vinyl color from cognac as on my vehicles data card to something like bamboo or tan? Please advise your thoughts. Thank you.
Best, Steve
A: Short answer: Unless the car is too original already, go ahead and change the interior color.
Long answer: There has always been a “romantic notion” that preserving a car’s original color and equipment make it more valuable. In the real world it is only true for cars in good-enough original condition, overall, to be eligible for the newly emerging “Heritage Class” of cars at prominent Concours d’Elegance (different labels for different shows). A car can easily fall out of eligibility for that distinction, when only one component, such as interior, or paint get bad enough that they would only be placed in, but never win even a third place in this category. A a well executed interior or exterior color change, will not hurt, and may well help the value of most collectible cars. By “well executed” I mean a correct paint color or upholstery material for the year the car was built and well enough executed that it impresses the judges at a car show. In this same vane, adding authentic period options, such as an up-graded radio the was in fact available through the original manufacturer that year… is never faulted if I am chief judge. Each concours has it’s own rules of course, and sometime it extends to allowing after-market options if they are correct to that time period… such as metal, exterior sun visors common to cars of the 1940s and 1950s.
Many a trophy winning car (75% in one survey I did a few years ago) has had a color change, or even an engine replacement. As long as it is correct for the model and year in question AND the especially when earns car show awards, it will not hurt value. Preparing a car for judging is not for everyone but if a Condition 1 level valuation is sought show-judging bring a “third party” (not the owner and not the restorer) measure of workmanship and authenticity lined up along side other cars vying for the same distinction. For me, even a fresh “total” restoration does not earn Condition 1 status until it has been so judged by third party judges.
Topics: Mercedes-Benz Modifications, Questions & Answers |
