Highlights

Beautifully presented in metallic grey with red leather interior
Well specified car with 170bhp M130 2.8L engine and 4spd auto
£30,000 spent on restoration since 2018
Original colours maintained throughout
Well maintained with vendor advising extensive service history available

The Appeal

Few '60s GTs deliver quite the same combination of handsome, restrained style, comfort,, practicality and straight six performance as Mercedes’ W113 280SL. Equipped with an auto box, this is a car perfectly suited for a relaxing jaunt down to the South of France.

This 1968 280SL arrived in the UK in 2017 and was acquired by the current keeper two years later. Beautifully finished in the original factory colour scheme of grey metallic over red leather, it is a very fine example that has always been carefully dry stored with a cover when not in use.

The vendor reports that he has expended £30,000 on the car’s maintenance and renovation since buying it. With very few miles covered since, it presents at a very high level. All the lovely W13 touchpoints are in good shape, including the extensive chromework, hard top, leather interior and wood veneers.

When you want a Pagoda, you aren’t spoilt for choice. With its great factory specification and extensive recent investment, we think this one warrants serious consideration.

The vendor says:

“Immaculate condition, drives beautifully well. Very stylish, a real head turner!”

History and Paperwork

First registered in 1968

First registered 1968
Imported to UK and registered here in October 2017
We believe it is only 2 previous owners, 1 in the UK
Current keeper since February 2019
Extensive service history available we are told
Lots of recent and older invoices as shown in photos
Approximately £30,000 spent on restoration since purchase we are told
Stored in underground parking facility with full covers by the current keeper
Few miles covered since last advisory-free MOT in 2018
V5C in current keeper’s name
Registered as a Historic Vehicle
Factory handbooks and documentation as shown

The Condition

The vendor states the car is in pristine condition
Original colours throughout including bodywork, hardtop and soft top
Finished in smart grey metallic paintwork with USA-specification marker lights
Bodywork presents very well with flush panel fit and well kept arches and sills
Paintwork shows few indications of use as can be checked in photos
Bright and very well kept chromework as shown
Matching factory hard top in good condition
Folding black fabric roof in very good condition
Steel wheels with body colour hub caps and red banded tyres
The interior is all original
The works carried out were all done by the prestigious John Stokes Workshop, renowned for its high quality work
Seats with two-tone finish in red and lighter trim to centre panels
Red carpets finished in high quality materials
Well kept veneers, door cards and dashboard as shown
All instruments and switchgear in working order
No radio installed
Underside presents well in photos with evidence of protective undersealing

This is a very pretty Pagoda. The dark grey paintwork accentuates the plentiful bright chromework, all of which is in very good condition. The red banded tyres are a neat touch.

We are told that the interior could be original, and if so it must be some of the best preserved interiors we have ever seen, however if it has been retrimmed, it appears to have been done a number of years ago and to a very high standard. Any Pagoda interior is a lovely place to be, helped along by some great detailing, and this well-preserved car is no exception.

The Mechanics

2,778cc M130 170bhp straight-six engine
4spd automatic gearbox
Engine starts and runs smoothly, we are told
Vendor reports that the automatic gearbox changes smoothly
Drives well according to seller
Extensive recent specialist maintenance costing £30,000 advised by seller
Details of recent maintenance recorded in the history file and photos as shown

The 2.8L straight-six M130 engine adds a healthy extra 20bhp over the smaller-engined W113 versions, making these cars good long-legged cruisers, particularly, as here, when equipped with the relaxing 4spd auto box.

This car benefits from extensive maintenance since the vendor acquired it in 2019. The details are recorded in the history file and highlighted in the photos. The car has covered very few miles since most of the work was done in 2019 and is said, therefore, to drive very well with no issues.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

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