There were plenty of black cars made, thousands anyway. Maybe not the most popular color but always a good seller in the northern areas anyway. A friend just retired a black 82 242. They are a really cool looking car.
The big difference between your 88 (I'm assuming) and that turbo, is you probably had a clearcoat paint, some kind of metallic color on the 88. A lot did.
The clear doesn't last as long especially on the upper surfaces. Maybe 10-12 years, but the car lasts for 18. So very many 80's 240s have terrible paint, in all the metallic colors, blue, silver, grey, green.
Black, maroon, bright red, light and dark blue, yellow, white, and beige were made as solid colors, and therefore last much longer. When dull, they can be polished (and they'll turn your polishing cloth the same color as the paint!) The clear coat paint doesn't respond well once it starts to flake or turn white. No option except strip and repaint.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 234K, '82 245T/M46-182K, '84 242DL/AW70-100K, '89 244DL/AW70- 212K and I miss my: 86 244DL 215K, 87 244DL 239K, 88 744GLE 233K, 88 244GL 147K, 91 244 183K