Description
Mercedes-Benz 280SL "Pagoda" — 1967
Red · Manual gearbox · Comprehensively serviced
This is a 1967 280SL, finished in red and fitted with the manual gearbox — arguably the most engaging and sought-after specification of the range. It has just come out of an extensive, no-shortcuts mechanical program, so the next owner inherits a Pagoda that is meant to be driven and enjoyed, not left as a project.
What makes this example stand out
Correct, desirable specification: manual transmission and a strong colour combination that photographs and presents beautifully.
Mechanically sorted, not "needs recommissioning": the car has received a deep, recent mechanical refresh at a high standard (full detail below).
Ready to use: the goal of the work was a Pagoda you can start, drive and trust — not a static display piece.
Global appeal: the W113 is one of the few classics with genuine worldwide demand and a mature parts and specialist network.
Recent comprehensive mechanical refresh
All of the following was carried out recently with new parts and to a high standard of workmanship:
New radiator — cooling system renewed for reliable running.
New brake servo (booster) — restored braking assistance and pedal feel.
New battery.
New hydraulic steering box — precise, properly assisted steering.
Front suspension renewed — restored ride, handling and geometry.
New clutch — clean, positive engagement for the manual gearbox.
New drive belts.
Complete fluid change — engine, gearbox and all systems refreshed.
Valve clearances adjusted — engine set up correctly for smooth, healthy running.
In short: the wear items and service points that typically hold a Pagoda back have been addressed. This is a car that has been made mechanically dependable so it can be enjoyed straight away.
Technical specifications
Model Mercedes-Benz 280SL (W113 "Pagoda")
Year 1967
Engine M130 · 2, 778 cc · inline-6 · SOHC
Fuel system Bosch mechanical fuel injection
Power approx. 170 hp
Transmission Manual
Body Two-seat roadster
Roof Removable hardtop + soft top (please confirm what is included)
Colour Red
Brakes Front discs / rear drums
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Contact: +598 94 793 474 - Uruguay, South America
An icon, not just a car
Some cars are transport. A few are design landmarks — objects you keep because the world stopped making things like them. The Mercedes-Benz 280SL "Pagoda" belongs firmly in the second group. Penned under Paul Bracq, its concave hardtop roof gave the model its enduring nickname and turned a roadster into one of the most recognizable silhouettes of the 20th century. Six decades on, the Pagoda is no longer just a classic Mercedes — it is a blue-chip collector piece and one of the most coveted open-top Mercedes-Benz ever built.
The model in context
The W113 generation (1963–1971) redefined what a Mercedes sports car could be: elegant, beautifully engineered, safe for its era, and effortless to drive. It closed the range with the 280SL, powered by the 2. 8-litre M130 inline-six with Bosch mechanical fuel injection — the most refined and powerful of the three Pagoda engines (230 / 250 / 280).
The 280SL is widely regarded as the best of the family: the same delicate, timeless body, now with meaningfully more torque, smoother delivery and genuine long-distance ability. Roughly 23, 800 examples were built over the entire production run, and clean, correct, driver-ready cars — particularly manuals — continue to appreciate on the international market.
Why a Pagoda, and why now
The 280SL sits in that rare category of classics that are as satisfying to own as they are to look at: usable in modern traffic, comfortable enough for real journeys, easy to live with, and universally admired wherever it goes. Values for correct, well-kept cars have moved steadily upward for years, and a driver-ready manual example in an attractive colour is exactly the kind of car that holds and grows its value.
You are not just buying a convertible. You are buying a piece of automotive design history — and one that has just been given the mechanical attention to be driven with confidence.
