1970 Mercedes-Benz W113 280SL #0006

Restored to high standards in the late 1990s by revered Nicosia-based P&V Mechanics*

Originally registered in the UK on the plate DPB 47H in 1970, this vehicle’s story doesn’t actually begin until the late 1990s. A time when the car was acquired by a banker named John Nicholl, purchased from a Raji Verma in Isleworth for just under £5,000.

At the time, John purchased this 280SL as he was specifically looking to create an exceptional car; one that exceeded the calibre of ‘restored’ vehicles available on the UK market at the time. With no history, John decided to start from scratch, commencing with the vehicle’s first international trip – to Cyprus.

John had selected the highly revered Paris Koullapis for the restoration. At the time Paris headed the vintage car restorer, P&V Mechanics based in Nicosia, Cyprus. It was here that the vehicle would be stripped to bare chassis and rebuild; with all sills and body panels (boot and bonnet) replaced with OEM parts from Germany. Over the course of the the two year restoration, over £40,000 was spent to bring it up to factory-correct standards. The equivalent almost £100,000 in today’s money.

The vehicle was then driven across Europe, through Italy and France and over to Northern Ireland, where it resided up until early 2003. The vehicle then changed hands and remained in the custody of a new owner up until 2007. During this four year period, the vehicle as kept in a temperature controlled garage and driven only around 600km per year. The driver’s door was also repainted again due to slight bubbling. The front chromes were also refurbished in Somerset, while an original Becker Europa radio was sourced and fitted. The owner also replaced the entire exhaust system.

The vehicle benefitted from a new alternator, starter motor, plug leads, condenser, tappets, refurbished petrol tank, overhaul of the injectors and distributor. The soft top was also replaced with an original Sonnerland hood.

Over the past few years, the vehicle has been located between France and the Cotswolds, where it now resides. The owner reports that they have used the 280SL sparingly, over-servicing the Pagoda for peace of mind.

This vehicle will go live on our website once it has been prepared by our Workshops and photographed by our team. We will outline any additional works carried out by SLSHOP here.

Please contact us in the meantime for more information.

*Car pictured is for illustrative purposes only.

The folder accompanying this vehicle is far too extensive to detail here. We invite interested parties to join us for a coffee and chance to look through the extensive story documented by previous owners.