Almost 39 years ago--on August 21, 1967--the town of Sindelfingen, Germany, witnessed the presentation of an automobile that should become the final iteration of the traditionally hand-built Mercedes-Benz Roadsters: the legendary 280SL. The 280SL is a true Sixties icon, communicating the joie de vivre of this free-spirited decade with its sexy bodywork and unbridled performance. It is more athletic and better-equipped than its predecessors, with power steering and four-wheel power disc brakes as standard equipment, as well as optional air conditioning.
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When new, 280SLs were very expensive and highly exclusive. Yet, only few of the 8,047 SLs produced for '69 have survived in prime condition. Most of these wonderful cars were ridden hard and put away wet, eaten alive by the merciless rust cancer; many passed from one owner to the next, their true mileage and history shrouded in darkness. Rarely will you find a car that has benefitted from an "open checkbook" restoration aimed at perfection; it's a difficult and very costly path few owners are willing to take.
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Let's face it: no matter how valuable and exclusive a collectible automobile is, restore it and you'll end up spending much more than anticipated, often more than what the car is worth. We've recently read about a show condition 280SL that was restored for $200,000.00: it's being offered @ $125,000.00 now, the owner taking a $75,000.00 hit. The Roadster for auction here has a similar pedigree: thoroughly refurbished a few years ago and not driven much since, the owner's estate was forced to sell it for less than the cost of its restoration alone. Accompanying the SL are receipts for most of the work, totalling $57,051.57; this amount does not even include the original purchase price of the car! Adding it brings the documented sum total to exactly $75,651.57!
Manufactured during the summer of 1968 for export to the U.S., VIN *113.044-12-006896* is one of the very few factory correct "Signal Red" (code 568) 280SL Roadsters, which makes it one of the most desirable survivors imaginable. Fully equipped with 4-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning, tinted glass, leather interior, BECKER stereo, and the super rare, transverse-mounted rear seat, it has been a pampered summer toy all its life, travelling just 97,088 miles in 37 years. That's less than 2,500 miles annually, on average!
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A copy of the factory data card, courteously provided by Michael F. Kunz, manager of the new Daimler-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California, reveals that this car features matching numbers throughout. With the help of a factory-trained Mercedes-Benz master technician, we cross-checked the numbers of engine, body parts, and equipment to confirm everything to be original.
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Accompanying the car are some noteworthy items, shown above:
- Fahrzeugdatenkarte (Vehicle data card, or "Kardex")
- Owner's manual
- BECKER radio warranty & wiring diagram
- Pair of chromed top handles, including the original pouch
- 29 chronologically filed receipts detailing the aforementioned $57,051.57 in restoration parts and services
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Stunning to behold sporting its factory Signal Red color, the car was completely stripped of its original paint, media-blasted, and re-finished to a very high standard in 1998. Detailed invoices for this work total $13,087.00. There are no bubbles, scratches, dings or dents; perhaps a couple of minuscule blems that arise even during limited use: certainly nothing to lose sleep over. All the exterior trim has been re-finished or replaced, from the weatherstripping to the brightwork. The road wheels have been stripped and powdercoated; new hub caps were installed.
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Of course, the mechanical aspects of the 280SL were not neglected, either. Inside an immaculate engine bay rests the strong heart of the Roadster, its fuel injected 2.8-liter overhead cam inline-6 motor, producing 180 lively horses. This one, the original, matching numbers unit, has been thoroughly rebuilt and runs like a champion thoroughbred.
Since purchasing it in 1997, the SL's owner spent well over $30,000.00 rejuvenating the car's mechanical systems, while only adding 7,000 miles to the odometer. In addition to the engine, the fuel injection pump, transmission, suspension, brakes, and A/C system were completely rebuilt. Among other items, a new driveshaft, complete exhaust system, power steering pump, alternator, radiator, water pump, thermostat, heater core, belts, hoses, battery, shocks, axle bearings, turn signal switch, and new German windshield were installed.
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Naturally, the engine compartment itself was restored as well, while the mechanical components were being refurbished. Please, take a close look: everything is toothbrush clean!
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Rebuilt front suspension. Amazing attention was paid to everything, down to the smallest detail.
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Yes, we've checked: the deck lid, doors, and convertible top cover carry matching numbers. The factory weld spots on the front fenders confirm the integrity of this outstanding SL.
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What makes the Mercedes W113 SL unique in the classic car world is that you actually have three vehicles in one: a roadster, a convertible, and a coupe.
As a roadster, the top is invisibly stored in its perfectly preserved convertible top bin. Raise the snug, black canvas soft top (with tan herringbone headliner), and the SL becomes a perfect all-weather convertible.
But wait, the SL could even be enjoyed during the cold season. Thanks to the--matching numbers--steel hardtop (check out the perfect headliner), the car morphs into a weather-tight coupe.
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Inside the flawless cockpit, the 280SL roadster's painted dash communicates the opulence of the 1960s, with intricate chrome fittings, deeply varnished, authentic Zebrano wood, pinstriped VDO gauges, and an optional NARDI wood-and-aluminum steering wheel. Note the BECKER Europa radio: it has been serviced by an antique auto radio specialist and works perfectly!
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Details from left to right:
- Fantastically preserved gauges
- Illuminated shift gate; original black shift knob
- Glove box light
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Surveying the sumptuous interior, everything looks like new. Perhaps because it is.
The comfy black leather seats are correctly pleated, wonderfully firm and accommodate even the tallest people. Salt-and-pepper carpeting is new; beneath it are the original gray rubber floor mats. Zebrano wood has been restored and everything looks factory correct, including the unique KANGOL seat belts featuring Mercedes' three-pointed star on their buckles.
Clearly visible in the picture above is the passenger side exterior rearview mirror, another rare option.
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Back in the 1960s, leather seating--instead of the common MB-Tex--was an expensive factory option. During the course of restoration, the seats were completely rebuilt, including the horsehair pads, the carpet was replaced with the original, expensive, gray German material, the nickel-plated top frame was refurbished, and the canvas convertible top was replaced. Since this car had always been garaged, the original door panels and dash top had remain immaculate and have been retained.
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A rare treat: the transverse mounted third seat, perfectly clad in black leather, offering a surprisingly good amount of leg room. Thusly equipped, the 280SL is a roadster for the family man.
Note: top compartment lid's "horseshoe" pad was correctly re-covered, too.
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Before we go on a test drive, let's check out trunk and undercarriage.
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The SL's sizeable luggage compartment looks every bit as spectacular as the rest of the car.
From the ribbed, gray rubber mat to the fitted spare tire cover to the complete factory tool roll: everything you would want to see on a show-ready SL is here. The only thing absent is the usual, moisture-induced trunk corrosion most SLs suffer from!
Check out the tire jack and tool kit.
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Expect no less than breathtaking quality from the undercarriage, too. Belying its age to the fullest, everything looks like you'd hope to find on a three-year-old Mercedes. A brand new stainless steel exhaust system, new BILSTEIN shocks, a new gas tank, and a refurbished rear suspension!
And, yes, these are the original, rust free, 37-year-old floors! To make our forensic investigation complete, we removed seats and carpeting to show you the floors as viewed from the inside. Perfect!
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While good looks and health are certainly important, let's not forget that cars are meant to be driven. Hence, the bottom line: what's it like to drive this 37-year-old in today's traffic?
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Exercising this SL is a very exhilarating experience. The expertly remanufactured power steering and suspension are as tight as a new car's. No play, no shakes or shimmies here! The automatic 4-speed transmission's shift points are precise; the power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes stop the car with authority. Of course, transmission and brakes were completely rebuilt, too!
Take our word for it: in the three decades we've been involved with classic European sports cars, we've never encountered a Mercedes Pagoda SL that drives and handles as perfectly as this one. It's virtually like new!
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Not an entry level Pagoda by any means, we wholeheartedly believe this SL to be one of the finest examples of its kind in the Nation. Here's why:
- It is a rust free, two-top car
- comes fully equipped with automatic transmission, factory air conditioning, leather, BECKER stereo, dual mirrors, and rare third seat
- has undergone a thorough, fully documented restoration
- features a very desirable factory color combination
- original front fenders and floors
- matching numbers on engine and all factory stamped body parts
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Clearly, this 280SL is for the discriminating enthusiast. Someone who knows that this is not a used-and-abused 37-year-old car, but one of the finest restored examples imaginable, maintained to perfection. Someone who'll give this superb Mercedes Roadster a new home and make it part of the family . . . and the investment portfolio, of course.
"You get what you pay for," is an old saying. With this 280SL, you'll get more, so much more; we guarantee it!