1965 Mercedes 230SL – Auction Car of the Week

The Mercedes 230SL “Pagoda” requires little in the way of introduction but we simply love talking about them so we’re going to write a gushing one anyway. The SL moniker, or “Super Light”, began in 1951 with the jaw-droppingly gorgeous 300SL. It was a car designed to go racing that subsequently spawned a road-going variant three years later but it was the introduction of the 230SL that cemented the legacy of this particular abbreviation and one that continues to this day. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963 the 230SL, nicknamed the Pagoda for its concave hard top but internally designated as the W113, was designed by Paul Bracq under the watchful eye of Friedrich Geiger who had previously penned the aforementioned 300SL.

Based on the W111 220SE saloon, albeit with a slightly shorter wheelbase, the two-door 230SL was Mercedes opening gambit for its new W113 platform and came equipped with a tweaked version of the inline-six cylinder engine from the 220. The car was breathed on by Mercedes’ chief engineer Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut and improvements came in the form of a new cylinder head with larger ports, valves and camshaft, an increased compression ratio,a revised block with aluminium crankcase and wider cylinder bores, upping the engine’s displacement to 2,306cc. A Bosch MultiJet fuel injection system with individual injectors for each cylinder was also utilised meaning the 230SL produced a peak power figure of 150bhp as well as 144lb ft of torque. Not blisteringly fast but more than enough to make the 230SL a capable and smooth cruiser, appealing to those that wanted to waft along in style, comfort and not to mention safety. To say the W113 cars were well built would be a gross understatement.

With fully independent suspension and either a four-speed automatic or manual gearbox (a five-speed ZF would be made available in’66) the 230SL is a charming and reliable slice of ’60s European elegance that still cuts a dash to this day. The 250 and 280SL models followed, with a 2.5-litre and 2.8-litre version of the same flat-six that powered the 230SL respectively and while these two may have stolen the show in the past, especially the 280, the 230SL is definitely finding its feet among classic car enthusiasts and collectors and is a car that is definitely going up and to the right in the classic market.

And so on to the example we have currently available via our auctions platform. This particular 230SLis a desirable UK Right-Hand drive model with automatic transmission and power steering, first registered in 1965. The car looks absolutely gorgeous with its beautiful white coachwork and complimentary colour-matched hubcaps, whitewall tyres and vintage style number plates. The car comes with both hard and soft tops, both of which are in excellent condition and although it has had a handful of body repairs in the past, specifically to include underbody corrosion repairs and attention to the wings and quarters, the work has been carried out to an incredibly high standard. If it wasn’t for us mentioning it you would likely never know. All of the glasswork and chrome trim presents excellently throughout too. Such is the condition of the car that it was included in Classic Cars magazine in January of this year as the cover feature. High praise indeed and testament to its overall condition.

Similarly the contrasting black leather interior is in fine shape. Benefiting from a recent refresh the car also comes with a modern Sony Bluetooth CD head unit coupled with after market speakers mounted in the rear stowage compartment. The rest of the cabin is totally original with everything functioning as Mercedes intended. History wise the car comes with a folder of bills and receipts for servicing and past work, as well as a collection of old MOTs.

Mechanically sound this Pagoda drives impeccably and with a fresh engine rebuild under its rather stylish belt it is all set to deliver many more years of trouble free, happy motoring. Stirling Moss was so enamoured with the car that he is alleged to have written to Mercedes’ race manager Alfred Neubauer regarding the 230SL: “I cannot remember ever driving a car that I would like to own more”, subsequently having one built to his exact standards. If it’s good enough for Sir Stirling then it’s good enough for anyone.