1968 Mercedes-Benz W113 280 SL #2226

1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Automatic Pagoda (W113)

Silver with Red Leather, Red Soft Top and Silver Hard Top

Perfectly restored and simply wonderful.

About the Mercedes-Benz SL W113 Pagoda:

Mercedes-Benz never intended the 300SL Gullwing to go into production as a road car. It was the Austrian-born, New York-based importer Max Hoffman who suggested the idea during a directors meeting in Stuttgart in 1953. With America enjoying a booming post-war economic period, the time was right to introduce a racing car for the road, aimed squarely at wealthy enthusiasts. An initial order of 1000 cars was planned, with the road car making it’s debut at the 1954 New York Auto Show.

With the 300SL, Mercedes-Benz and Max Hoffman had pioneered a new section of the market, but the high production costs of the 300SL resulted in a prohibitively high price tag. Mercedes-Benz wanted to capitalise on the racing success of the 300SL and the sales success of the road car – what they needed was a car that could inspire desire like the 300SL while borrowing heavily from the existing Mercedes-Benz parts resources…

This new car had to had to have 100% of the beauty and 50% of the costs… Enter the 190SL.

The new ‘mass produced’ SL arrived in 1955 and would remain until 1963, utilising many of the styling cues that made the 300SL so desirable. With it’s four-cylinder engine and lower price tag than the 300SL, the 190SL was an instant sales hit. This was the car to own and be seen in. It cemented a new direction for Mercedes-Benz, and would begin the development of the SL as a model for the future.

Despite the success of the 190SL, the limitations of it’s performance were acknowledged by Mercedes-Benz as early as 1955. Offering just over 100bhp from the 1,897cc engine, company bosses knew that a 190SL replacement had to offer more substance for it’s style…

With the market established and driven by the success of the 190SL, the W113 SL was born.

Arriving in 1963, the new SL used a shortened W111 Fintail platform and technology from the new W112… hence W113.

The beautiful styling of the gently inwardly sloping roof would earn it the nickname ‘Pagoda’. Penned by Paul Bracq, this now iconic design is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cars of all time.

The W113 ‘Pagoda’ was the first mass-produced SL to utilise a six-cylinder engine, and no car would combine an ‘SL’ badge with a four-cylinder engine until the SLK230 arrived some 33 years later.

Across the 9 years of Pagoda production, three different engines were available, with displacement and output growing accordingly.

The 230SL (148 hp) arrived in 1963 and remained until 1966, when it was replaced by the 250SL, which offered the same power output but increased torque from 145 lb ft to 159 lb ft. The 250SL lasted just 14 months before it was replaced by the 280SL (168hp) in 1967.

230SL 1963 to 1967 (148 hp, 145 lb ft)
250SL 1966 to 1968 (148 hp, 159 lb ft)
280SL 1967 to 1971 (168 hp, 180lb ft)

(It should be noted that USA cars operated with reduced power thanks to the stringent emissions regulations at the time.)

Almost 49,000 Mercedes-Benz Pagoda cars were produced between 1963 and 1971, with nearly half that number destined for the USA.

Today the Mercedes-Benz Pagoda is a well established classic car, adored by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

For many, the ultimate Pagoda is a European Right Hand Drive 280SL Automatic. These cars offer the very best of Pagoda technology, being the final incarnation of the W113. Although the manual-gearbox cars are in demand, for many of us the pure simplicity and ease of use that comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission makes touring in a Pagoda an absolute delight.

This is a car that can be admired and adored on the most exclusive boardwalks the globe has to offer, yet that can comfortably cruise at 80mph and contend with modern traffic. With enough driver and passenger conveniences to make winter touring possible, plenty of luggage space and being such an easy car to drive, it’s no surprise that the Pagoda is more in demand than ever.

About this Mercedes-Benz SL W113 Pagoda:

This beautiful Silver with Red Leather 280SL has been completely restored to a very high standard by John Haynes.

The extent of the restoration can only be truly appreciated when browsing the impressive photo history of the work that accompanies the car. Four large binders detail the work undertaken, further bolstering the quality of the work. The word stunning is overused in the automotive sector, so when we call this car ‘stunning’, it must be understood that we mean this in the truest sense of the word. This car is just magnificent. The restoration encompassed a complete, nut and bolt strip down and rebuild, with the end result being a completely new car, built to the exact standards of the original.

Just over 1,100 miles have been covered since this work was completed.

Being an original Right Hand Drive 280SL Automatic, this is an already desirable car, with the silver and red leather combination making it one of the finest looking Pagodas currently available.

A genuinely breathtaking car whether at a glance or up close and in the flesh.

A car that stands up to close scrutiny from even the most fastidious enthusiast.

Not to be missed. A Pagoda of this calibre in the desirable combination of Silver with Red is not going to last long in our showroom.

Present with this car:

Book 1 – History File
Book 2 – History File Continued
Book 3 – Log books, Tax discs, MOTs
Book 4 – (red folder) Becker Operating Manual
Book 5 – (blue hardback) Details of restoration work
Book 6 – (a5 photo book) Photo details of before and after restoration

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.

Further photographs are available on request, please contact Bruce Silver with Red Leather, Red Soft Top and Silver Hard Top Fully restored to a very high standard