This 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL recently received a complete restoration with over $50k in receipts and now shows 98k miles from new. Finished in Dark Olive (291) over tan leather, power is provided by an 2.8-liter fuel-injected inline-six paired with a four-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Factory equipment includes a folding soft top, a removable hardtop, heating and air conditioning, a front defroster, manual windows and a Becker Europa radio. The most recent maintenance items include a new water pump, radiator, radiator hose, oil lines and AC lines. Extensive service history is included with the vehicle. This Pagoda SL is now offered for sale by the selling dealer with the original manufacturer’s literature, a full-size spare tire and a clean Tennessee title.
The exterior is finished in Dark Olive (291) with a beige fabric soft top and features chrome trim lining the windows, bumpers and beltline. Included with the car is a removable hardtop which is paint-matched to the body color. Additional exterior equipment includes front fog lamps, two-speed wipers with a windscreen washer and a driver-side door mirror. The exterior was reportedly repainted during the restoration and shows no signs of rust or damage.
14” wheels wear polished chrome hubcaps with paint-matched centers and are fitted with Michelin Defender tires measuring 205/70 with date codes from 2012. Braking is handled by dual-circuit power-assisted discs both front and rear.
The cabin is trimmed in tan leather and includes matching brown carpets and a body-color dashboard. Both front seats are adjustable fore and aft with adjustable backrests and headrests. Interior amenities include a dash-mounted VDO clock, a lockable glove compartment, heating and air-conditioning, manual windows, a windshield defroster and a Becker Europa radio. The carpeted trunk houses a full-size spare with its matching cover.
The instrument cluster includes a 140-mph speedometer and a 7k-rpm tachometer as well as gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature and oil pressure. The mechanical odometer shows just 98k miles from new.
This 280SL is powered by a 2.8-liter fuel-injected inline-six producing 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. A full restoration was recently completed in 2021 with receipts totaling over $50k. Maintenance items from September 2021 include a new water pump, radiator, radiator hose, oil lines and AC hoses. New seatbelts and sun visors were fitted in November 2021. The seller reports that extensive service history is included with the car.
This 1970 280SL is now offered for sale by the selling dealer with the original manufacturer’s literature, the spare tire and cover and a clean Tennessee title.
The W113 or "Pagoda" SL is arguably one of the best looking Mercedes ever produced and moreover, one of the most iconic convertibles to come out of the 1960's. These cars are significantly better to drive over their predecessor, the 190SL, and seem to be poised perfectly as one of the best investment cars to buy. The Bracq-designed masterpiece was almost twice as expensive as the Jaguar E-Type of the time and seems to be a favorite amongst various MB enthusiasts and generations. This example has received an extensive restoration with thorough attention to detail. All aluminum body panels are straight with both fenders and quarter panels showing the original factory spot welds. Finished in a classic green over tan, this example will make the perfect addition to a collector’s garage and is sure to provide many phenomenal Sunday drives for many years to come.
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20 Comments
BRG Pagoda, hope it found a deserving next caregiver. Beautiful carThank you for clarifying that. I hope she finds a new owner. She is really a lovely car......must have been the dealer badge@Jim_Rosenthal @stavakoli The car did not meet reserve. When a car meets reserve, it will say "SOLD at $XXX" at the top of the page. When the reserve is not met, it will say "BID TO $XXX". Please contact The MB Market if there's further interest in the vehicle.This ought to have done the job, if not close. I'm curious, too.Did this auction meet reserve?$120,000 bid placed by @ChrisT
$117,500 bid placed by @stavakoli
$117,000 bid placed by @ChrisT
$115,500 bid placed by @stavakoli
$115,000 bid placed by @ChrisT
$113,000 bid placed by @stavakoli
$112,500 bid placed by @ChrisT
$110,500 bid placed by @stavakoli
$110,000 bid placed by @ChrisT
Beautiful car and colour combo. I have the exact #291 green in a 71 model year with the cognac interior and even the tan fabric roof. I agree with @GoBoGo the dealer plaque is a distraction and should be kept inside the owner's manual pouch. This car deserves to be in the 6 figures all day long.$108,000 bid placed by @stavakoli
$107,500 bid placed by @ChrisT
$105,500 bid placed by @stavakoli
$105,000 bid placed by @DanBlythe
$100,000 bid placed by @British1
$99,500 bid placed by @stavakoli
$99,000 bid placed by @DanBlythe
$97,000 bid placed by @ChrisT
$95,000 bid placed by @DanBlythe
$90,000 bid placed by @ChrisT
@Jim_Rosenthal I do understand the history/provenance but I guess I am weird : ) When someone hit my old 91 W124 diesel from behind, I removed all the badging (other than the star); the ML320 on my '99 was easier to remove as they were 'applied' vs. 'mounted' like the old badging. Regardless, if I had the cheddar, I'd be honest that the badge probably wouldn't truly preclude me from bidding on this gem! The bidding is closing in on 'value' at this point, though!@GoBoGo I think the trunk badge is way cool. History and all that. I'd leave it right where it is.Toni1951, I just went thru restoration file.Unless we all want to review pages and pages of just under $50,000 in receipts that give detailed work accomplished that particular week-i.e. attached exhaust system,wire fuel pump,sand underside of hood,and on and on it goes.There is too much for this presentation.$88,000 bid placed by @Crownevick
$75,000 bid placed by @DanBlythe
Thank you for your comment. Ironically we left the Madison Smith badge on the trunklid because that was the selling Mercedes Benz franchise in Nashville at the time. Dont know about you but I like provenance and proof of it, this badge is part of the history. Toni11950 wanted see some records. I will go thru the 2" file and post a few but this car is so well documented, it is foolish to try and post even a third of what is here. The questions and statements give me insight that we have not have relayed the integrity and history of this car properly. The car has always lived in Nashville, serviced here and refurbished here with documents and books since DAY 1. This is not a car that has been beat around ,traveled here ,lived there, cut here ,bondo there! This is the "REAL" deal that one would be challenged to criticize the integrity, drivability ,and history. If you have been looking for a great example of one of these iconic Mercedes Benz classic-STEP UP AND BID!I can't get over the fact that this BEAUTIFUL car is nearly perfect after restoration.... until you gaze at the trunk lid. The "Madison Smith" might as well be a 5 inch scratch on the side of the door that can't be missed. A horrid oversight IMHO. From the peanut gallery but my unsolicited 2 cents... Good luck!Good morning, Toni1951-There has been no floor board,fender,quarter,trunk floor replace ment on this car.EVERY panel still has the factory spot wields,factory under coating,factory wield seams.Historical docs have no indication of cutting and wielding.In addition,the vehicle itself shows as an original sheet metal car.$53,500 bid placed by @Hadokenny
What kind of restaurative welding and / or panel replacement needed to be done ? Trunkfloor ? Footwells ?Please do add pictures of restoration process plus invoices and documents on the history of this car !$53,000 bid placed by @Frank13
$51,000 bid placed by @Edward
The paint color code has been correctly updated.This car is definitely NOT a color change.The listing is posted incorrect.$50,280 bid placed by @DanBlythe
$41,000 bid placed by @EuropeanC
Hello Is the SL a color change or is the ad wrong?? Ad color is 268. The plate on the car is 291 H. What is the color? ThanksBeautiful car , good luck$40,500 bid placed by @DanBlythe
$40,000 bid placed by @Classicalgenius
$6,200 bid placed by @zaidb1010
$5,950 bid placed by @Pops
$5,500 bid placed by @zaidb1010
$5,250 bid placed by @Dwilson65
This is just lovely! I will own another 113. But this will exceed my budget… for good reason.$5,000 bid placed by @PhotoWagon
$250 bid placed by @Dwilson65