1964 Mercedes-Benz W113 230 SL with Red Leather

1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda (W113)

Silver with Red Leather
Black Hard Top and Black Soft Top

About this Mercedes-Benz SL W113 Pagoda:

This beautiful 230SL Pagoda was purchased by the current owner in 2012, after seeing the car at a prestigious classic car auction. Finished in Silver with striking Red Leather, the rare manual gearbox must have been a large part of the appeal – bought unseen, the gentleman must have been pleasantly surprised during the first drive in this lovely car.

Very little history accompanied the vehicle at the time of the auction, only a small amount of paperwork pertaining to the car’s time spent in Holland – a Dutch registration certificate. This is not uncommon with cars from the 1960s, in fact it is rare to find a Pagoda with a fully documented record of the service history since new.

Although it was obvious that this 230SL was the subject of a very high quality restoration, shortly after the purchase this Pagoda went to a specialist for a full inspection report and a comprehensive service, a good idea when buying cars unseen and with very little history. Perhaps this was a nervous time for the new owner, but there was indeed no cause for concern.

What followed was a positively glowing report on the condition of the car, inside, outside and underneath – and a comment that the charging circuit wasn’t quite working as it should be, a note to say it had been remedied and a bill totalling some £750.

The report states that the vehicle is ‘structurally in first class order‘, that the ‘paintwork and finish of the underside and closing panels such as the bonnet and boot lid are in first rate order, as is the engine bay‘ and that the ‘fuel tank is rust free‘. The praise for this car goes on to state that everything works exactly as it should, with the dashboard and switchgear in fine fettle, exhaust system free of rust and gearbox operating as it should. Other than the charging system, the only fault that the technician could find was that the ‘engine did not run well‘, another small issue that was resolved with a fresh set of HT leads. The report concludes that the vehicle has ‘no discernible flaws and is rated in A1 condition‘, which is the condition this Pagoda still presents itself in today. One can only imagine that the owner was somewhat pleased with the purchase, and he would continue to enjoy this fine car for almost a decade.

In the 9 years since the initial report, this car has undergone careful maintenance, with nothing occurring from outside of the usual Pagoda maladies. In 2015 there was an issue with the engine starting, resolved with a recalibration of the fuel system, some adjustments to the writing and a clean up of the spark plugs. An issue with smoking was fixed with an engine strip down and valve stem seal replacement, and an alternator was replaced. The only significant spend documented within the file is a new clutch and a rebuild of the gearbox, with a bill for almost £4,000 dated November 2018.

This is your chance to take advantage of the risk taken by the previous owner, having plucked this car from the hands of other bidders. Not only that, but the key things that occur in the years following the purchase of a car with very little history have all been resolved, presenting an opportunity to purchase a superb looking and driving 230SL that benefits from a decade of care and attention in all the right areas.

A fantastic looking car, the drives superbly through the gears and is an absolute pleasure to sit in.

Not to be missed.

This Mercedes-Benz has been hand-picked by SLSHOP’s sales team due to its high calibre status. Every inch of this vehicle’s exterior, interior and mechanicals have been inspected by SLSHOP’s workshops to ensure the vehicle meets our world leading standards. While every effort has been made to offer pristine vehicles, there will be some age-related marks, unless otherwise stated.

We advise interested parties to join us for a coffee to peruse the documentation accompanying this vehicle. There are servicing records and invoices, MOT and tax records dating back many years and as such must be viewed in person.