1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

For sale by auction on Saturday 08 March 2014 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Mercedes-Benz W113 roadsters. designed by Paul Bracq. were
produced from 1963 through to 1971. They were known as the 'pagoda
roof' SL and replaced the W198 SL in 1963 which was then. in turn. br/>replaced by the R107 SL in 1971. All models boast an inline
six-cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection using a
mechanical pump system adapted from the diesel motors. Most of
these early SL's were sold with both the removable hard top and a
soft top in the so-called 'Coupé/Roadster' configuration. By 1955. br/>Mercedes-Benz Chief Engineer. Prof. Fritz Nallinger and his team. br/>held no illusions regarding the 190SL's lack of performance. in
1960. he eventually proposed to develop a completely new 220SL
design based on technology from the W112. This led to the W113
platform. with an improved fuel-injected 2. 3 litre M127. inline-six
engine and the distinctive 'pagoda' hardtop roof called the
230SL. It made a remarkable debut at the prestigious Geneva
Motor Show in March 1963. where Nallinger introduced it as follows:
'It was our aim to create a very safe and fast sports car with high
performance. which despite its sports characteristics. provides a
very high degree of travelling comfort. ' The 250SL was
basically a one-year model. introduced at the 1967 Geneva Motor
Show. The more desirable and more powerful 2. 8 litre 280SL was
introduced in 1967 and continued in production largely unchanged
through to 1971.

This sympathetically restored 280SL Pagoda has been immaculately
re-painted in its original colour of white whilst retaining its
period carpet and Tex interior. A new black hood has been
supplied and fitted by marque specialists and the car also comes
with the original white hard top. Many thousands of pounds. br/>hours of research and a high degree of attention were spent finding
and then bringing the original pre-restoration model to its current
condition. The original car was. in its own right. a truly lovely
example. Previously part of a private collection and boasting many
qualifying features including front wing notches and matching
numbered panels sought after by Pagoda aficionados. this
restoration has been completed to a truly superlative standard
including a bare metal re-spray to ensure the quality of finish. br/>whilst also retaining original keys and locks to doors and glove
box. secondary rubber boot mat. spare wheel chock and tool kit.

The 2. 8 litre engine pulls well through the automatic gearbox
and handles just as well as it did when it left the showroom; in
fact the vendor. having had the car appraised by professionals. was
informed the car was "one of the best they have ever driven!" With
a believed to be genuine. 59. 00 miles on the clock and having
recently undergone light restoration. we would challenge any
Mercedes-Benz SL enthusiast to fault this car. Supplied with a V5C
registration document. current MoT test certificate. owner's
handbook and wallet. a file containing old MoT test certificates
going back to the early 1980's confirming the displayed mileage
together with invoices relating to historic maintenance. This is
certainly one of the best examples of an extremely collectable
righthand drive Mercedes-Benz classic you are likely to see.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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