Beschrijving
This show standard, pristine collection quality Mercedes Benz 230SL is an original RHD, UK Home Market car (manufactured December 1964), first registered on the 17th May 1965 with matching numbers and rare, highly desirable 5 speed ZF gearbox.
GWB 434C has covered just 500 miles since a complete nut and bolt restoration and is in first class condition throughout. The car is truly outstanding with a show winning quality underside and engine compartment, pristine, immaculate paintwork on an outstanding bodyshell, gleaming chrome work and a beautifully re-trimmed upholstery. The Pagoda comes with both soft and hard tops and having had a full mechanical rebuild, the car drives beautifully in every respect. On the road this Mercedes Benz meets expectations with a perfect rebuilt engine holding excellent oil pressure, the highly desirable 5 speed ZF gearbox is superb to use, power steering effortless, handling and braking first class ensuring this top class collector's piece offer comfort, luxury and a completely first class driving experience. This is an incredible show car and is certainly an example for the most fastidious of collectors.
The SL comes with a comprehensive history file and this confirms much of its early life was spent in Cheshire. For the majority of the 1970's the car was in Macclesfield and in 1980 it was sold to a lady in Congleton . The lady covered 4000 miles in ten years, selling the car in 1990. A letter confirms the sale in 1990 at £9500, and also confirms the mileage at this point as recorded as 95432, and that 3893 miles had been covered since an engine rebuild with Mercedes Benz Manchester in 1980. In strong, sound mechanical condition the new owner began a cosmetic refurbishment that developed into a body restoration. A letter on file dated 8th May 1992 confirms ‘The Mercedes Benz Owners Club Ltd' inspected the car confirming it was generally sound with no major rust damage, was running well but was in partially dismantled condition. The new owner fully dismantled the car and the body was treated to new floor pans, front inner wings, rear inner wheel arches, rear outer wheel arches, lower wing panels, new inner sills and jacking point sections, new outer sills and new front and rear panels. Sadly, he never completed the restoration, and in 2014 it was sold unfinished having been off the road since buying the car in 1990.
In 2014 the Pagoda was sold to a Lancashire based collector and the car was subject to a no expense spared two year restoration taking the car to show level quality. The Pagoda was once again dismantled and then treated to a bare metal re-paint paint ensuring perfect panel gaps and alignments. Although little mileage but many years since its Mercedes Benz engine rebuild, the original engine was stripped down and fully rebuilt with new pistons, main bearings, big end bearings, new camshaft, fully rebuilt cylinder head to unleaded specification and new timing chain, oil seals etc. Labour included re-lining the cylinder block, re-grinding and polishing the crankshaft, balancing re-bushing timing sprockets and carrying out detailing and paintwork to the engine. The SL was also treated to new water pump, new clutch, flywheel bolts, new oil pump pipe, new injector pump and injectors, new electronic ignition, new fuel pump, fuel tank, new power steering system, stainless steel exhaust system, brakes and suspension overhaul and many new seals, hoses, pipes, switches, cables, clips, rivets, mouldings, trims etc. During build up, thousands of pounds worth of new chrome was purchased, new lamps, new glass, drop glass guides, polished wood set also bought new, the hard top was fully re-furbished and a new hood frame and soft top fitted. The interior trim completely re-trimmed to an exceptional standard, the dashboard and gauges fully stripped and restored, then carefully re-fitted to the car, the boot compartment prepared, detailed and trimmed, the engine bay beautifully re-fitted and highly detailed to ensure the car was ready to be presented in show condition as part of an impressive top class collection. On one of the cars first outings it won ‘Best Car' at the Mercedes Benz show in Manchester.
During 2020 the owner decided to reduce the numbers of cars in his collection, the Mercedes Benz being one of seven cars part exchanged with us for an Aston Martin DB5. At this point the car had covered around 300 miles since completion, and we sold it to a North Yorkshire based collector who is now concentrating on a collection of British built cars. In almost three years on the North Yorks Moors the Pagoda has covered just a couple of hundred miles, perfecting faultlessly on all occasions. Due to the size of the recent owners collection, the car has had short but regular trips and now arrives back with us exactly as it left, in pristine condition throughout. We are delighted to have GWB 434C back with us, it is without doubt one of the most beautiful examples of the Pagoda we have ever sold and it will not disappoint. This is a very usable, show piece that is finished in a stunning colour combination, and with the desirable 5 speed ZF gearbox, and its top class underside, it will be difficult to repeat at under £200, 000.
