*Seller Asking:
$75,000
- The roof of the hard top on the W113 SL came reinforced on the driver and passenger side by two thick pillars (insisted by Mercedes safety engineers) which reduced the head room. Not wanting to raise the whole roof (it would look like a large bubble) they instead only raised the portion that was directly over the driver and passenger heads. This made the center of the top appear as if it were caved in, unintentionally resulting in a beautiful yet functional design that was dubbed the “Pagoda”
- An option known as the “California” was available. This transformed the SL into a topless 2+2, with folding rear seats replacing the folding soft top. Only a Pagoda hardtop was provided with these cars
- The 280 SL’s M130 engine was a bored out version of MBenz’s long running M180. The increased bore stretched the limits of the block so much that the water passages between 2 pairs of cylinders had to be removed. This required the need for an oil cooler, installed next to the radiator
- In order to prolong and maximize engine life, each M130 engine was dyno tested for over two hours at the factory before it was installed in an SL
- Mercedes sold the SL in America with a much steeper rear axle ratio (4.08:1) compared to in Europe (3.69:1). This was due to the lower speed limits in the States. A 3.69 ratio was much more suitable for autobahn cruising
- Rear axle ratio was changed from a 4.08:1 to a 3.92:1 in late 1969
- The rare ZF 5 speed manual was removed entirely from the options list for U.S cars. The 5spd was rarely chosen in previous years (it was expensive) and MBenz couldn’t justify continuing this option when the new diff ratio was sufficient enough at reducing highway RPM over the older 4.08 axle cars
- Fuchs forged aluminum wheels (“Bundt” wheels) are now a factory option, rather than a dealer installed option
- Coolant expansion tank is now plastic instead of steel
- The following year (1971) had virtually no changes, and was the final year for the 280SL
Seller Notes:
- Unrestored, highly original Pagoda
- Previous owner inherited the car from father (original owner), kept in storage for 20yrs
- Factory Air Conditioning, hardtop, and soft top
- Nardi wood and aluminum steering wheel
- Original tool roll and jack in trunk. Original spare tire in trunk
- Highly documented. Had 22k miles when serviced in Nov. 1988
- Original owners manual and body colored hub caps
- Location: Fairfield, California – (more photos below)
- UPDATE: ad is no longer available (sold or expired)
UPDATE: ad is no longer available (sold or expired)
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*SAE rated from factory. May not reflect current output
*Performance numbers pulled from reputable automotive road tests
*Base price when new does not reflect original MSRP of this particular car, nor does it reflect what the original owner paid for it
*Advertised price at time of posting. Sellers can raise or lower prices on their original ad at any time. Click on the original ad to view current price/availability
Mileage Disclaimer: NOC has not confirmed if the mileage stated by the seller is true and accurate. It is up to the buyer to verify these claims. Vehicle history reports, service records stating mileage, and even inspections of odometer tampering are recommended.
