1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ by Brabus Classic
Chassis No. 113044 12 005455 Engine No. 130983-12-003415 Body number 84927

• Presented in DB 903 Blau with code 255 Pergament (parchment) leather interior and matching hardtop
• The subject of a comprehensive, fully documented and photographed ‘6 Star’ restoration by Brabus Classic
• German registered

“Our experience of the original 230 SL and the interim 250 SL made us feel that the engines had to work very hard to give the expected performance. With this latest version (which has 11 per cent more torque) all these criticisms go and there seems to be a much greater reserve of power than the engine size, which is still small by absolute standards, would suggest.” British magazine Autocar tries the final version of the superlative 280 SL

Mercedes achieved the Holy Grail of motor car production in the 1950s: they created a legend. The immortal 300 SL was available first as a barely disguised racing coupé with dramatic ‘Gullwing’ doors, later as a peerless Roadster, the ultimate touring car for two.

Both versions were highly successful and are still instantly recognisable. So creating a modern six-cylinder successor fit for the 1960s was hard for the Stuttgart company. It decided to wait until the Geneva Motor Show in March 1963 to launch what was to become another classic GT with a popular nickname: ‘Pagoda’, so called because of its patented, slightly concave hardtop.

The new car superseded not only the range-topping 300 SL Roadster but also the four-cylinder 190 SL. Until it was replaced in 1971, some 49,000 W113 sports cars were sold.

This early 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ represents the best of German engineering and timeless style, an automatic sports-tourer for lazy days by the seaside, long-distance travel or gracing the front of 5* hotels the world over.

The Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’

The 1963 230 SL was based on a shortened W111 saloon chassis with independent double-wishbone front suspension. The squarer body captured the minds of many and stylishly clothed the fuel injected 2.3-litre, 150bhp straight-six.

Unlike the 300 SL’s image of being a racing car for the road, the new car’s appeal was far more subtle: the 230 SL driver would enjoy the new car’s more predictable handling while still able to reach 120mph if he or she were in a particular hurry. As was usual for a Mercedes-Benz of this era, quality was more important than almost any other single factor. The 230 SL was reliable and finished to very high standards. The paint alone was reputed to weigh 20kg.

In 1967, after almost 20,000 cars had been built, the 230 SL was graciously retired to make way for the more driveable 250 SL, its larger engine giving more torque though little extra power. Rear disc brakes made their debut on the 250 SL, as did an improved cooling system.

The model was short-lived as in 1968 the final, ultimate version of the immortal ‘Pagoda’ was revealed. Its 2,778cc engine produced more power (180bhp) and gave it crisper performance. The final SL also had the latest North American legislation-compliant padded steering wheel and revised dashboard seen on the last few 250 SLs as standard.

As always, wealthy buyers – the 280 SL was roughly double the price of an E-type Jaguar – loved the new car and added many features such as air-conditioning, power steering and electric windows. Leather upholstery was an expensive option though not always easy to distinguish from the excellent MB Tex imitation leather that came as standard.

This Motor Car

The data card for this Mercedes-Benz 280 SL is stamped ‘4 Okt 1968’ indicating it was built late – October – in the first year of 280 SL production. The Auftragsnummer (order number) is 87060172. The number ‘8’ signifies a car commissioned in 1968, ‘706’ is the region signifier, in this case the USA, and ‘0172’ is the individual order number.

The specification was as follows:

• DB 903 Blau (blue) external colour for body and hardtop
• 135 Interior in blue 5000 MB Tex vinyl
• 744 Fabric roof in 5010 dark blue
• Bosch headlamps
• Continental tyres

The car was first registered on 1 March 1969. Little is known of the early history of this ‘Pagoda’ until it arrived at Brabus Classic in Bottrop for ‘6 Star’ restoration. Formed in 1977, the Ruhr company has a legendary reputation for high quality precision work carried out by true craftsmen. Whether it is engine-building, metalworking, painting or trimming, Brabus is one of the world’s masters. There are few other companies with such extensive experience of working with cars built at Stuttgart bearing the famous three-pointed star.

The Official Mercedes-Benz Classic Partner took the car back to its component parts, rebuilding it with original M-B components better than new to more attractive European specification. Rather than drastically modifying the car away from standard, it was restored to what the famous company calls ‘normal’, or ‘true to original’ specification but with the addition of several desirable features not ordered new. At every stage a photographic record was kept of its rebirth.

Brabus maintained the classic exterior colour but upgraded the interior and finished the hardtop and hub caps to match the now leather upholstery in classic Pergament (parchment).

The restoration was completed in August 2018, at which point an expert appraisal commissioned by our client concluded the car was in ‘condition 1’ – the best rating possible, valuing it at €290,000 to €300,000. At that time the odometer was zeroed, and the car has been little used since, simply carefully stored and regularly submitted to TüV inspections. The odometer currently reads 392km.

This 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ has been restored to perfection by the experts in Bottrop. It wants for nothing and is a testament to German precision engineering, be it from 1968 or 2018. For those looking for the ultimate 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ built for modern driving, this is the car.