I'm looking at purchasing a 450 SEL several thousand miles away and am trying to figure out what color it is. I think it's an 876 from the photos, but the car is listed as a 1974 .. so not sure it could be. If not, any idea which it is? http://www.w116.org/tech/colors/ Thank you in advance for any help! regards, James
looks like you re correct
Best bet is to ask the seller for details of the options plate from under the hood. It'll tell you the original colour code.
Thanks, I will. Just thought I'd see if anyone has one and could verify for me. Thank you!
That is very definately NOT cypress green, not even close. Cypress is a dark green with a hint o gold and brown.
(http://www.meinbenz.de/farben/116/876zypresse.jpg)
Ah, ok .. wow that looks way different than the color chart at http://www.w116.org/tech/colors/ . Anyone have a guess. (I will try to get the owner to look.) As I said, it's reported to be a '74, so it kind of limits the options. JLM
I'd say it is 876. As said, just get the number from the info plate to be sure.
I like the color whatever it is!
I see 2 big issues here..
First, it isn't at all sure this Benz has an official Benz color.
Second, the official color code sheet is as realistic as Bush's second term in office.
If S-Class is right -and I believe he is, that color code sheet isn't worth a dime. These 2 W116 paint jobs could not be further apart.
Closest thing to actual colors is Thistle Green, and that ain't it neither, be it that Thistle has the capacity to change color enormously in different light and angles.
Having owned a cypress green W116 it definitely isn't cypress green. It may have been originally but it looks like its been repainted in a non standard colour to me. Or it could be a rare Mercedes colour. I don't remember ever seeing a W116 in that colour before.
Quote from: floyd111 on 08 November 2015, 02:18 PM
Second, the official color code sheet is as realistic as Bush's second term in office.
Once you have the official colour code and manufacturer from the options plate, you can actually look it all up online at the OEM vendor's site. Both are still in business and doing well.
Keep in mind that unless you're viewing the official colour chart on a perfectly calibrated display, you may get wildly varying results depending on hardware. Printed charts fade with years - same issue.
I have seen many zypress benzes in the metal, and the photo I posted up is a fairly accurate representation.
Hi James
The colours mentioned on this forum are true and correct in name and number (paint code) only. The colour assigned next to each name is not the actual colour, but an approximation of the colour just to guide you quickly to the correct group of colours, i.e. that are not actual paint chips.
As your car is 1974, I got out my May 1974 paint chip brochure. I think your car is a flat colour, specifically 860 Green. There is a metallic green, 861 Silver green for that year, but I do not think it is this colour.
Click on the images to enlarge them - sorry I took them in the kitchen, and the light isn't too good + shadows + flash, but you get the idea.
Hope this helps,
Gavin
Edit: I stand corrected, there is a second metallic green: Stone-pine green code 862, but as we can see, it is a very dark colour, the car in the picture is much lighter. Incidentally, this is the forerunner to Cypress green metallic (which makes its first appearance in the Oct 1976 colour chip brochure). And there is also a second flat green colour: Dark olive 291, but again too dark for the car in the picture.
That's a great resource Gavin. Any chance you could scan it somewhere? That last page is quite interesting.
just found this on fleabay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-1975-Mercedes-Benz-Factory-Paint-Colors-Brochure-wf6309-WK84HN-/290876034741
More photos with better zoom: http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1974-Mercedes_Benz-450SEL-1292153.xhtml
Not that it helped me.:P
I'd guess it's a recently repainted silver green (861) but I think Gavin may be on the right track in saying that it could be a solid gloss rather than a metallic, which would only leave green 860, if it's an original colour at all.
Hi Gavin - you are correct! It's 860.. got the build sheet today from my local MB dealer (took awhile but they figured it out). Turns out, the build is 1974 for model year 1975. Now .. if I could only figure out what the color *really* looks like. From the photo it looks more like 867, which I really like from other photos I've seen on the web .. but the 860 pictures I've seen look darker than the one from the photo. But the fact you picked 860 makes me think it really does look like that. In any event, what do you all think of 860 - do you like the color?
best, James
Quote from: gavin116 on 09 November 2015, 01:45 PM
Hi James
The colours mentioned on this forum are true and correct in name and number (paint code) only. The colour assigned next to each name is not the actual colour, but an approximation of the colour just to guide you quickly to the correct group of colours, i.e. that are not actual paint chips.
As your car is 1974, I got out my May 1974 paint chip brochure. I think your car is a flat colour, specifically 860 Green. There is a metallic green, 861 Silver green for that year, but I do not think it is this colour.
Click on the images to enlarge them - sorry I took them in the kitchen, and the light isn't too good + shadows + flash, but you get the idea.
Hope this helps,
Gavin
Edit: I stand corrected, there is a second metallic green: Stone-pine green code 862, but as we can see, it is a very dark colour, the car in the picture is much lighter. Incidentally, this is the forerunner to Cypress green metallic (which makes its first appearance in the Oct 1976 colour chip brochure). And there is also a second flat green colour: Dark olive 291, but again too dark for the car in the picture.
"I have seen many zypress benzes in the metal, and the photo I posted up is a fairly accurate representation."
Yes, your photos are, but I was referring to your photo, and the color code sheet. Those two items are very different in color.
Quote from: 911-450 on 09 November 2015, 09:17 PM
if I could only figure out what the color *really* looks like.
This is an example of a 350SE in 860 green:
http://www.meinbenz.de/farben/116/860.htm
I like it. It's "business like", suits the car well.
My all time favourite though is Milan Brown (404).
AH yes, that's the one picture of 860 I could find as well! Thank you. And I agree, 404 is beautiful! best, James
Quote from: ptashek on 10 November 2015, 04:55 PM
Quote from: 911-450 on 09 November 2015, 09:17 PM
if I could only figure out what the color *really* looks like.
This is an example of a 350SE in 860 green:
http://www.meinbenz.de/farben/116/860.htm
I like it. It's "business like", suits the car well.
My all time favourite though is Milan Brown (404).
there's another 860 here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFNTkcvoqE
Think this is another one?
http://www.carstart.de/showAd/Mercedes-Benz-450SEL-6-9-W116/3479067
Is it the one at the 1:12 mark?
Quote from: floyd111 on 10 November 2015, 06:24 PM
there's another 860 here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFNTkcvoqE
Great, thanks!
Quote from: floyd111 on 10 November 2015, 06:46 PM
Think this is another one?
http://www.carstart.de/showAd/Mercedes-Benz-450SEL-6-9-W116/3479067
Quote from: 911-450 on 10 November 2015, 07:13 PM
Is it the one at the 1:12 mark?
Quote from: floyd111 on 10 November 2015, 06:24 PM
there's another 860 here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFNTkcvoqE
That's mimosa yellow. I think 860 green is the one at the 2 minute mark.
Oh ok, got it, thanks!
Quote from: Beastie on 10 November 2015, 08:02 PM
Quote from: 911-450 on 10 November 2015, 07:13 PM
Is it the one at the 1:12 mark?
Quote from: floyd111 on 10 November 2015, 06:24 PM
there's another 860 here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFNTkcvoqE
That's mimosa yellow. I think 860 green is the one at the 2 minute mark.