Description
Introduced in 1963, the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL represented a new chapter in the marque’s celebrated history, combining elegant styling, sophisticated engineering and impressive grand touring capabilities in a beautifully proportioned roadster. Today, the W113-generation SL is widely admired as one of the most recognisable and enduring designs to emerge from Mercedes-Benz, affectionately known as the ‘Pagoda’ thanks to the distinctive concave profile of its removable hardtop.
The 230 SL was conceived to offer a compelling balance of sporting ability and everyday usability, bringing together the refinement expected of a Mercedes-Benz with the enjoyment of open-air motoring. Beneath its elegant bonnet sits a 2. 3-litre, six-cylinder engine, delivering smooth, progressive performance, while the car’s well-engineered chassis and independent suspension provide a reassuring and composed driving experience. Whether enjoyed on a leisurely country-road drive or embarking on a longer European touring adventure, the 230 SL remains a wonderfully rewarding classic.
Visually, the Pagoda is a masterclass in understated design. Its clean lines, delicate chrome detailing and perfectly balanced proportions give the car an enduring appeal. The distinctive hardtop is a defining feature, offering both a practical enclosed driving experience and the opportunity to enjoy the car in its most evocative open-top configuration.
The car we offer here is a wonderful example, presented in DB050 White with a Cognac leather interior and black soft top. The car is specified as a right-hand model with a 4-speed manual gearbox. Notably the car remains as a matching numbers example, retaining its original engine from factory.
Today, the car benefits from extensive restoration works totalling in excess of £100, 000, having been carried out by the Hilton & Moss team entirely in house.
The list of works completed is vast, however highlights from the work carried out include:
Body shell restoration and full respray in Mercedes DB050 White
Full engine rebuild
Injection pump rebuild
Rebuilt steering box
Overhaul and refurbishment of the braking system
Electronic 123 ignition upgrade
New fuel tank
Mechanical and electrical overhaul across the car
New windscreen
Zinc passivation of fixings throughout as necessary
The full and comprehensive series of invoices can be shared upon request to provide full details of the work carried out.
Built and now prepared for sale by the Hiton & Moss team, this Pagoda is ready for a new custodian to use and enjoy the car exactly as Mercedes intended on the open road more than six decades after its introduction.
The Mercedes-Benz 230 SL continues to represent the very best of the marque’s post-war grand touring philosophy. Its combination of timeless elegance, mechanical sophistication and accessible classic-car enjoyment makes it an increasingly desirable addition for any enthusiast.
Available now, only at Hilton & Moss.
