Mercedes-Benz 280SL, 350SL, 380SL, 450SL, 500SL & 560SL (107 Chassis), 1972-89
Convertible Top and Convertible Top Parts
Mercedes-Benz (R107 Chassis) Convertible Top Information
- Quality: Made to original specs, 100% fit guarantee.
- Original Configuration: Top is made with 3 plastic windows with piping around windows. Hand rolled binding. Robbins tops include the above door seals.
- Original Factory Material: German A5 Sonnenland Canvas
- Alternate Materials: Sonnendeck (Twillfast) Canvas; Haartz Stayfast Canvas
- About Fabrics: The Sonnenland is original and is the highest quality/wear rating canvas. Twillfast is close. Haartz Stayfast has a plain inner lining (as opposed to the Sonnenland and Twillfast woven lining) giving it a slightly lower wear rating. All fabrics are very similar in appearance.
- All seams are doubly electronically welded and sewn for added reinforcement. Convertible top fabrics are mildew & mold resistant, and UV treated for color fastness. Plastic windows are DOT rated heavy 40-gauge thick vinyl.
- Installation: Professional installation is suggested.To locate a professional installer please enter "automobile upholstery shops near me" in your browser search bar. Do-It-Yourself installation is for the handy meticulous person. We supply a fully illustrated 30 page (8 1/2 x 11) installation manual, on request with top and included in our top packages.
- Warranty: Tops are made by Robbins and carry 5 year factory warranty with 18 month labor allowance. Tops made by Kee include a 6 year factory warranty (without labor allowance.)
Important Information
Original Factory Color(s): Black, Blue, Brown and Tan
Three Window Tops:
The tops offered on this page are original replacements with three plastic windows.
These tops are for the "107" chassis Mercedes convertibles.
The tops offered on this page are original replacements with three plastic windows.
These tops are for the "107" chassis Mercedes convertibles.
If you have a 1972 model with one rear window, please go to the earlier 1963-72 tops page.
Manufacturer:
These tops reproduce the originals in every detail and are made by Germanex.
Installation Manual:
This top requires no sewing or stapling or rivet work to install. The top is installed entirely with screws and with contact cement. No special tools are required. Pliers, Philips Head screw driver, 16 oz contact cement, an awl and our "bojo" tool for prying, pressing etc. are all the tools needed. A pint of lacquer thinner maybe useful for cleaning old glue. We believe that a patient and handy person can remove the old and install the new top.
Fabrics:
The original topping fabric was German Sonnenland Canvas, usually in black, brown or blue.
The backing was originally tan, but you may choose black instead.
If you have a backing color preference, please specify in the checkout message box.
Haartz Stayfast canvas is an American made near facsmile to the Sonnenland.
Because its inside layer is not woven in the manner of Sonnenland, the resulting topping has
an approximately 15% lower average wear rating. It is hard to distinguish the appearance difference
between Haartz and Sonnenland. Haartz Stayfast is only available with a black inside lining.
Sonnendeck is the American origin canvas that emulates the Sonnenland more closely
than the Haartz Stayfast, reproducing the inside layer weave. This topping is sometimes
referred to as "twillfast" canvas. Our experience is that it does not have quite the wear rating of Sonnenland.
Details:
These tops are made exactly like the original, with three plastic windows, top stitching,
piping and hand rolled bindings.
Vinyl tops:
Chrysler Sailcloth vinyl is featured on modern Sebrings, Mustangs and others. It is a vinyl
designed with a canvas appearance (its grain emulates that of canvas.) Vinyl tops
have only about 65% of the wear rating of Sonnenland canvas; but
it is handsome, available in many colors and significantly less expensive.
CONVERTIBLE TOP FABRICS
Almost all manufacturers use Haartz fabrics. They may specify "heaviest weight" or "original replacement" in ways that seem reassuring. But they do not really tell the whole story. Please bear in mind that two things dominate, by far, the quality issue: (a) the manufacturing quality control in the factory that makes the top and (b) the care and thoroughness of the installation. There is a trade-off in weight: heavier is better for resisting tear through, but lighter is better for flexibility and abrasion from within that may arise from movement. Almost all our tops are a flexible medium density (36 oz.) fabric. Heavier is not better in most cases. Where it is, because of the top design, we will say so and the top will be made of the heavier vinyl.
Almost all manufacturers use Haartz fabrics. They may specify "heaviest weight" or "original replacement" in ways that seem reassuring. But they do not really tell the whole story. Please bear in mind that two things dominate, by far, the quality issue: (a) the manufacturing quality control in the factory that makes the top and (b) the care and thoroughness of the installation. There is a trade-off in weight: heavier is better for resisting tear through, but lighter is better for flexibility and abrasion from within that may arise from movement. Almost all our tops are a flexible medium density (36 oz.) fabric. Heavier is not better in most cases. Where it is, because of the top design, we will say so and the top will be made of the heavier vinyl.
- Sonnenland® is a German-made 3-ply topping made up of an acrylic twill-weave facing, a rubber inner-layer, and a polyester "dobby backing." The dobby backing is a knit-like weave original to many high-end foreign cars. Customers who value originality over cost often pay top dollar for Sonnenland, just to have that authentic "dobby backing," seen only when you look up at the roof of your convertible top from inside your car. Sonnenland canvas is a top-of-the-line material original to various Audi, BMW, and Jaguar convertibles, among others. Sonnenland Canvas can vary in terms of surface weave and/or weight for acoustic performance, but all Sonnenland Canvas promises elegance and long-lasting durability.
- Twillfast®, also called Sonnendeck Canvas, is an American-made canvas - a cost-effective substitute for Sonnenland. Twillfast is usually a 3-ply topping (though some versions are 5-ply) with Polyester and/or Polyester/cotton backings. This material, original to certain Camaro, BMW, Mustang, and VW Beetle convertibles, among others, varies in terms of surface weave and/or weight for acoustic performance. Twillfast Canvas is identical to Sonnenland Canvas - elegant and durable - only it's less expensive. This is a top-notch convertible top material, one we often recommend to savvy customers who like a good buy and a quality product.
- Stayfast Canvas is an elegant, durable canvas original to cars like the Mazda Miata and the Nissan 370Z. Stayfast is commonly used in replacement convertible tops. Stayfast canvas has an acrylic square weave facing, a rubber inner-layer, and a cotton backing. As with other canvases, the rubber core gives the fabric long-lasting durability. Stayfast canvas is a sleek, beautiful canvas, usually less expensive than Twillfast, but it does not have the dobby backing offered in Sonnenland and Twillfast (Sonnendeck). Stayfast is a popular upgrade to vinyl convertible tops, and as with any canvas, is richer looking and has a higher wear rating than convertible tops made of vinyl.
- Haartz Pinpoint Vinyl is the most popular fabric. This vinyl design is original to most American cars from the fifties to the nineties. Pinpoint refers to the little dots or pips that you see if you look closely at the vinyl surface. European cars, such as the old Beetles and others also used pinpoint vinyl as the topping fabric.
- Chrysler Sailcloth is featured on many late LeBarons, Sebrings, certain Mustangs and other cars. It is structurally (wear quality) equivalent to the Haartz Pinpoint but has a different surface grain. The grain was designed to imitate the look of canvas. As you can see from the scan of this fabric, it is an exceptionally rich looking material. It is sometimes chosen for replacing convertible tops that originally featured pinpoint vinyl.
- Cabrio Grain is also structurally equivalent to the pinpoint. It has a pigskin outer grain vinyl as original to Volkswagen Cabriolets from 1984 onward and to Mazda Miatas and Mercury Capris.
- A5S German Canvas (Robbins) The 100% Acrylic Twill Weave Surface Cloth receives a special flame singing treatment to remove the fabric knap; and is laminated to Black 100% Polyester Dobby backing.
This is the original topping for Porsche Boxster and Cabrio convertible tops. 59 inches (150 cm) wide, made in Germany. - British Bison Vinyl is the most popular British roadster convertible top material. It is American made Haartz leather grain vinyl and is an imitation of the British Everflex vinyl top fabric. The British Bison Vinyl convertible top fabric is often referred to as 'crush grain.'
- British Everflex Vinyl We are now pleased to offer British Everflex Vinyl for classic English tops. This is the original material used on British convertibles including Jaguar, Rolls Royce and many others. Imported from England, British Everflex vinyl is a supple vinyl with a rich appearance and is more durable than other vinyls. A good, less expensive alternative is Colonial grain vinyl. Colonial has the same texture but is less durable.
- HV Denim (also called Twill Weave Vinyl) is heavy duty sport material composed of a distinctive twill grain PVC outer layer and a polyester/cotton blend inside lining fabric.
- Trilogy Acoustic Vinyl A heavyweight vinyl that is often used on SUVs like Jeep, because the two-ply composite has the capacity to reduce noise by about 20 percent compared to standard vinyls like Sailcloth. The vinyl material is durable, promises long-lasting wear-and-tear, and resembles the sleek twill cloth commonly found on luxury convertible cars.
- Haartz Twillfast RPC This American-made canvas has a twill weave pattern and resembles German-made Sonnenland canvas. It is a great all-purpose canvas and, according to Haartz, is used on 99 percent of convertibles. It is stronger and more durable than Stayfast Canvas and offers more sound protection. Haartz rates Twillfast RPC as a mid-level acoustic product, compared to the low-level sound reduction offered on other top materials like Stayfast
Warranties outlined here are only applicable for products installed by a professional trim shop or professional upholstery shop. For Convertible Tops, and related products, the manufacturer will void the warranty for any product that is not professionally installed; manufacturer defects are covered by the warranty in such cases. The manufacturer is not responsible for damage due to improper installation.
Parts in this category (Mercedes-Benz 280SL, 350SL, 380SL, 450SL, 500SL & 560SL (107 Chassis)) fit cars for years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.