MERCEDES-BENZ - 280SL Pagode
£ 55,500.00

MERCEDES-BENZ - 280SL Pagode

Mercedes Benz designed a chassis (the frame on which the car sits) then built various model cars using the same chassis design over a number of years; ranging from a year or two to 15 years or more. Cars built on the same chassis are very much alike with relatively minor cosmetic and option changes. Cars sharing the same chassis can have different engine sizes over the years. The Chassis for the SL’s that followed the 300 SL and the 190 SL in the 1960′s was the “W 113″ Chassis. 113 Chassis SL’s had three different engines over the years and three different model designations.
The 230 SL, 250 SL, and 280 SL Roadsters The W 113 Chassis SL’s
The three Mercedes 113 chassis SL models were: the 230 SL, the 250 SL, and the 280 SL:

230 SL    1963 to 1966    19,741 cars (4,752 were exported to the USA)
250 SL    1966 to 1968      5,196 cars (1,761 to the USA)
280 SL    1967 to 1971     23,885 cars (12,927 to the USA)
These three models all shared the same “W 113″ chassis. (The “W” is from “Wagen”.) Since a chassis more or less dictates the major design configuration of the cars built on that chassis, these three cars share many features and many parts in common. In parts catalogs, in books, the three cars are usually grouped together. While to the casual observer the three cars appear nearly identical, owners of W 113 cars are very aware of the differences in the three models and are often quite partial to their choice.

Mercedes owners often refer to the chassis number when discussing a car or ordering parts. “I have a 280 SL”, one will say. “Which one?” The reply might be “It’s a 113.” This avoids confusing car models having the same designation that may be years apart and are unrelated. One Mercedes 280 SL (the one we discuss here) is from the late 1960′s. Another Mercedes 280 SL is from the mid-1970′s. The two cars do not share the same chassis and are quite different. The later 280SL is a 107 chassis car mentioned below.
While German engineering made these cars unmistakably Mercedes Benz products, the elegant yet powerful timeless lines of the 113 SL’s were from the pen of a Frenchman, Paul Bracq who designed a number of successful cars including several BMW classics.

The Pagoda Roof
The W 113 SL’s (230SL, 250SL, 280SL) are sometimes called “Pagoda” cars.

This refers to the shape of the hardtop roof. The roof center is slightly lower than the sides reminiscent of the shape of a Japanese Style Pagoda. The sides of the roof were raised a bit to allow easier entry and exit, to permit larger side windows, and to increase roof strength. This same Pagoda roofline was carried into the next generation of SL’s, the 107 chassis cars discussed below.

When is an SL a “Roadster”? When is it a “Coupe”?
The Mercedes Benz Owners Manual for the 1971 280 SL refers to a car having only a Soft top as a “Roadster”, a car with only the removable Hardtop as a “Coupe”, and a car with both the soft and the hardtop as a “Coupe with Roadster Top”". The Owners Manual shows an accent acute over the final “e” (Coupé) to render it as “coo-pay” in the French manner.

The car offered for sale is the desirable 280 SL model with Automatic Gearbox & much sort after. Effortless performance —- In the correct ——- white paint- work, with contrasting Black interior as the pictures suggest, an Iconic & stunning car. This car has been driven each day in the early 80′s by the last owner. At this time the car was main Dealer maintained with the correct service history. The car came out of 25 years storage in January this year. At which point a full rolling Restoration started, to date a bare metal re-spray with engine removed, has provided the backbone to the transformation now nearing completion.This matching numbers car with original Engine & Gearbox & of course an original UK right hand drive car on course & really going to be one of the best !
Following a complete re-paint to a very high standard, the car’s mechanical & electrical side have been painstakingly re- commissioned, with new Callipers & Brakes & Fuel system fully overhauled Suspension & drive train also rebuilt.The car comes with  the original Pagoda Hard top fully re-trimmed & much attention to detail with the interior such that any observer would assume all elements new !
At this time the car awaits some new Rubber trims ,new Wind screen & all importantly the arrival of both re- chromed & replacement parts of Bright- Work. So today it is restoration in progress with a realistic Pre- Christmas target completion date ” what a present ! For someone, this car would make ” The recent pictures tell the story so far ! With Chrome still to be done !
Today the Dashboard is undergoing a complete restoration & service of all instruments such that this will be a wonderful example of an Iconic Mercedes everything both looks & works as new.
The car can be supplied with full folding hood * this will be to a new owners choice.( Black or perhaps Navy or even Burgundy ? )
The car can be viewed here with us in Suffolk & is ever nearer to completion, subject only to a few correct & original parts awaited from suppliers, where minor delays are it seems part & parcel of such a thorough re- commissioning.
The car will be supplied with new Becker Indianapolis / Radio / Sat Nav (* this period look extra ) is surely the Icing on the cake when considering long distance Touring with this Iconic & totally reliable Classic which is loaded with Style & Class from the 60′s & is a Classic with a very proper Luggage Capacity.
As is so important with such cars as this, the History file is good, with many receipts & bills from period motoring—& receipts to support the extensive present phase of re- Commissioning.
The car will find a new owner with a fresh 12 month UK MOT & will have been subjected to extensive test miles , the underside has been restored & carefully Waxoyld, so Winter motoring , with the Wow hard Top in place is both realistic & doubtless appealing to many .
The Mercedes 280SL is a rare & outstanding Classic,offering the best of both worlds with the removable hard top / the 280 SL reflects the steady rise in values,seen with 60′s Mercedes & a freshly restored car such as this, is not often seen on the market & as such, I urge an early viewing for interested parties.
As always we are happy to collect interested parties from London airports & the car can be delivered through out Europe by covered trailer in time for Christmas by myself.
As always inquiries are most welcome and Classics considered in part exchange .