1965 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pagoda |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1965 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pagoda

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Mileage~70,661
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine2.3-litre
LocationLeicester

AUCTION CLOSED

1965 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pagoda

Introduction

Glyn Parry

Professional Consigner

Paul Bracq's stylish masterpiece - now considered one of the most beautiful cars.

The Pagoda first arrived in 1963, this new SL used a shortened W111 Fintail platform and technology from the new W112, hence being internally coded the 'W113'. It was the gorgeous styling of the gently inward sloping roof which the car would earn its nickname the 'Pagoda'. Originally designed by Paul Bracq, it is now regarded as one of the most beautiful cars of all time.

The 230SL was the first mass-produced SL to utilize a six-cylinder engine, and this 148bhp example was the flagship for 3 years until it was replaced by the 250SL in 1966.

Dipak, the current owner of this car admired and adored the W113's good looks and the simple delight of driving this 4-speed automatic example. He previously imported the car from California and has attended to any needs to make the car roadworthy in the UK.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Glyn after meeting Dipak the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I'm a big Mercedes fan, and you can't beat the timeless good looks of the Pagoda.

Dipak purchased and imported the car from the U.S after looking high and low for a suitable model - the classic red coachwork of this Mercedes was one of the key features that attracted him. Dipak loves this Mercedes W113's styling along with its luxurious biscuit leather interior.

During his ownership, Dipak has installed a new soft-top along with biscuit leather interior and other tweaks to make the car UK road worthy, and to pass the MOT with flying colours. He mentions the car always gets people stopping to admire the classic '60s good looks.

Dipak will be happy to answer any of your questions you may have about the car in the comments below.

Dr Dipak

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

A glamorous classic of choice, a silver screen icon - and a popular classic among many celebrities.

Wheels and Tyres

Fitted with the classic Mercedes wheels, colour-coded hubs and whitewall tyres, the wheels are certainly a statement on this car.

The wheels all look in good condition, being picky we did notice the very slightest of scuffing around the edges, as you can see in the images / videos.

The front wheels are wrapped in Maxxis MA1 202 M+S dated 1999/2021, the rear are wrapped in Sears Road Handler 50's dated 1999/2000. On the older offside tyre we did notice some cracking beginning to show.

Bodywork

The panel gaps look good on this 230SL, with the shut lines for doors, boot, and bonnet all looking great and in line for a 60's classic.

On our visit, we didn't notice any major corrosion to the exterior of the car. However, we have taken hi-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves.

Paint

The cars bright red paintwork is a popular choice for the Pagoda, and rightly so. The finish of the paintwork is to a good standard - it looks even in colour and finish across the panels.

We did notice a few areas of wear, a few stone chips on the passenger door, and parking chips. On the offside front and rear arches, we noticed a very little area of cracking and another small area of flaking on the front bumper. There is some wear / flaking around where the hardtop meets the body and also some localised micro-blistering.

We think it's a good usable finish and up to the new owner on whether they want to improve over time. It's important for you to make your own mind up on the condition, so please take time to review all the images and videos showing the paint from different angles and reflections.

Glass and Trim

The chrome trim along the sides of the car appears in good condition with light signs of pitting begin to show - we noticed a slight dent on the nearside arch.

The glass looks good, with no signs of cracks or discolouration noted; just a slight scratch to the front windscreen on the passenger's side. The hardtop is presented in good condition, with some very slight ripples and a new soft top has just been fitted.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed tour of this 230SL.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The winner of the gruelling Spa-Sofia-Liège endurance rally in 1964, the Pagoda offers real touring comfort.

Seats and Carpets

The front seats, and carpets were subject to a refurb during Dipak's ownership and light restoration. The seats appear in great condition throughout, with no wear to note.

The boot has a full-size spare and toolkit. It is also fully carpeted appearing in line with the age and mileage of the car - take a look through the photo gallery to see the detail.

Dashboard

The dashboard is finished in a lovely red veneer, period-correct and matching the exterior. The top of the facia presents in good condition too.

The dials, switch, and controls are well presented, with the instruments all said to be functional.

The car's odometer is reading 70,661.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Fitted with an appealing and attractive white leather with aluminium steering wheel and a gear shifter (not original), both items appear in good condition.

All interior items can be seen in more detail in out interior media pack.

VIEW ALL

'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The Pagoda was way ahead of its time with the sporting performance and touring comfort.

Engine and Gearbox

The 230SL was the first mass-produced SL to utilize a six-cylinder engine, this 2.3L example produces 148bhp. We noticed an electronic ignition system fitted for further reliability.

Dipak reports the car starts from cold with no issues and drives well with its smooth four-speed auto gearbox powering the wheels.

Please take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around town, and for a closer look underneath.

Suspension and Brakes

Dipak reports having new track rods, brake callipers, wheel cylinders, and a master cylinder fitted when the 230SL arrived in the UK and before being taken for its MOT test.

After recent work, the brakes and suspension functional exactly as they should; as reported by Dipak. The car stops evenly and cleanly as can be seen in the 'On The Road' video.

The Drive

A very special car indeed - the 230SL is, in essence, the ultimate classic sports tourer. With its luxurious cabin, gracious good looks, with plenty of power under the hood - we can't think of a better car to go country-hopping in this summer.

Dipak has really enjoyed his ownership and he'll be sad to see it go, but mentions it's time for it to go to someone who will appreciate it as much as he has, and more importantly, use the car more.

Electrics and Other

This 1965 model boasted luxurious features far ahead of its time, such as the automatic 4-speed gearbox, radio and a has been further enhanced by a third-party air conditioning system. The air con has not been tested.

The switches and dials all appear in good condition but the fuel gauge sticks on low so it may be a wiring or sensor fault, Dipak suspects.

Dipak informs us the radio, whilst present, is not operational.

VIEW ALL

History and Paperwork

A smart buy with the gorgeous design and Mercedes reliability, and at this price it really is an affordable step into proper classic Mercedes ownership.

This car is coming out of 6 months of (UK registered) ownership with Dipak - he's thoroughly enjoyed using the car. The car is MOT exempt but it has had one carried out in October to make sure it was roadworthy in the UK.

The car is a good usable classic and with just some small areas for the new owner to attend to and improve over time.

The car has spent its life in the states, mostly in California, where Dipak purchased and imported it to the UK from.

Dipak will be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the car in the comments below.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.