Mercedes 280 SL or SL 280, which is correct?

It’s a common phrase petrolheads hear when out on the road, at shows or with friends and family. But what does it mean? And should you say Mercedes 280 SL or Mercedes SL 280?

SL stands for Super Leicht or you guessed it, ‘super light’, in reference to the original lightweight 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ manufactured to compete in highly intense road and track competitions. It’s common to hear people refer to their car simply as an ‘SL’, without any indication of the year or model – this is almost a nickname now in the same way that some people refer to their friends by their last name. It’s understandable then that people sometimes refer to their model of SL incorrectly, given the relaxed reference to the SL roadster in general.

The Mercedes 280 SL, the third generation SL 

Launched in 1968, the Mercedes 280 SL was the final incarnation of the W113 SL model and produced until 1971 when the R107 SL model was launched. The W113 or ‘Pagoda’ as it was nicknamed, became a global phenomenon for Mercedes-Benz, marking a new chapter for mass-produced convertibles in the United States and Europe.

What does the ‘280’ refer to?

As with all the models of SL, there are different variants. The W113 Pagoda SL came in three different variations over the course of production, and these include the 230 SL, 250 SL and 280 SL.

The number refers to the engine’s displacement and is the total volume of the engine’s cylinders, rounded up to the nearest one hundred. So, the following is true:

230 = 2.3 litre M127.II engine

250 = 2.5 litre M129.II engine

280 = 2.8 litre M130 engine

With its larger displacement, the 280 SL’s 2.8 litre M130 Single-Overhead Cam powerplant would make this latter variant the most sought after, even to this day. With over 150bhp, the unit offered much more power for the driver and as such aligned more with the SL’s sporting credentials. These factors make the Mercedes 280 SL a much more desirable vehicle today and as such are causing values to ascend dramatically compared to the two other variants.

So, what about Mercedes SL 280?

The W113 Pagoda was followed by the R107 SL which was produced from 1971 until 1989, when it was replaced by the younger tech-focused sibling, the R129 SL. This was a momentous moment for Mercedes-Benz as they had effectively revolutionised the luxury roadster, introducing driver conveniences and aids not before seen on a road car. The R129 SL was produced from 1989 until 2002, during which time there were several changes to the SL’s branding and nomenclature. The main point of focus here is the move of ‘SL’ to before the engine’s displacement. The first records of this change were in 1993, with the Mercedes SL 280 launched as an alternative to the six cylinder 300 SL. The Mercedes SL 280 would survive for the remainder of the R129 SL’s production, with the in-line six cylinder changed for a V6 in 1998.

The R129 SL went through a staggering amount of engine types; with upgrades throughout the production era, as well as the introduction of the first V12 unit on a road-going production SL. Rear about these changes here.

Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda for sale at SLSHOP

As we’ve alluded to already, the Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda was and remains the most sought after of the Pagoda variants; with the classic car community sighting this as the one to own in the modern era. As the world’s leading Mercedes SL specialist, we pride ourselves on offering the finest examples for sale via our digital and physical showroom. Fresh from our restoration workshops are these two Mercedes 280 SL Pagodas, fully restored and setup for driving by our craftsmen.

Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda – Anthracite Grey (172) with Bamboo Leather (249)

This 1969 Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda was originally ordered in White (050) with a Black MB Tex (131) interior finish, before being significantly altered over the next forty years with some poor craftsmanship carried out to the bodywork in the 1990s. We therefore took considerable time to establish the best way to restore this vehicle, particularly without losing the stamped panels that match up to the pagoda’s engine.

Months of tedious deconstruction took place, before all structural elements could be inspected and revived. New panels were sourced where necessary with original bolts restored where possible to keep all details as original as possible. The bodywork was dipped in rust protection before being painted in the period correct factory colour of Anthracite Grey (172). Inside, our trim shop has taken the original seat skeleton, added new inserts and covered them in Bamboo Leather (249) – a striking and vibrant original colour reminiscent of the sunny sixties.

Find out more about this Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda

This is a colour combination we have not worked with before and the contrast between the darker exterior and illuminated, period style interior works beautifully together and looks stupendous in the sunlight. A combination to enjoy in both the summer and the winter. As you can see the vehicle possesses all the matching numbers, certifying this Pagoda as entirely original.

Nut & Bolt 280 SL Mercedes-Benz – Medium Blue Metallic (396) with Parchment MB Tex (145)

It’s 1970 and you’ve just ordered a 280 SL Mercedes Benz. Little do you know that the W113 pagoda would only be produced for another year… Nor do you know that in 50 years’ time it would become one of those most sought after classic Mercedes models…

The 280 SL is the crème de la crème of Pagoda variants, featuring the more powerful M130 2.8 litre in-line six engine. But what makes this particular Mercedes 280 SL special, is that this engine is paired to a 4-speed manual gearbox, offering the driver more of an engaging experience over the automatic transmission. What’s more is that this is a left-hand drive variant, meaning it is particularly rare when considering the number of LHD manual 280 SL Mercedes produced.

As with the previous Mercedes 280 SL, this example has been subject to an intense restoration, taking place over the course of 18 months and with no expense spared. A restoration is not for the faint hearted, given the number of unknowns involved in the process. Stripped down to bare metal, the body work and chassis have been revived using the correct tooling and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring all structural elements are to original and exact factory specifications.

This is followed up with rust protection before a hand repaint in the original colour of Medium Blue (396). All replacement components have been supplied by SLSHOP and are either genuine Mercedes-Benz parts or high-quality premium reproduction equivalents.

As part of a mechanical inspection, the engine was stripped, with new seals, valves and guides as well as extensive work carried out to the camshaft, crankshaft and more. The details are extensive and available to read in the documentation accompanying the vehicle.

See more details of this vehicle by following this link.

The Mercedes SL 280 from the 1990s (R129) 

Where the Mercedes 280 SL has become the one to own, the SL 280 has fallen to wayside when it comes to the nineties Super Leicht. With the R129 SL now nearly 31 years old, petrolheads who grew up with the R129 on their bedroom wall are now looking for something to invest in and enjoy before everything goes electric. Of the R129 SL variants, the six cylinder to have, still remains the 300 SL (1989 – 1993) or SL 320 (1993 – 2002). The reason being?

Simply efficiency and performance. Both of the SL 320’s engine versions are simply more refined and less taxing. They offer marginally better performance, but tend to be less problematic. The fact they are slightly larger in displacement also gives more street credibility, as most would prefer not to have the smallest engine of the lot (if they are unable to afford the V8 or V12).

We currently don’t have any SL 280 variants in our Showroom, but we have a beautiful selection of R129 SL500s and SL320s.

You can view these here.