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Curated Auction

1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’

At a Glance

2004 Californian Import | Hardtop | Smart Presentation | ~17 Year Family Ownership

  • Mileage~25,801 on clock
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine2.8L
  • LocationCamberwell

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£1,500
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£1,500

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Video #2

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Consigner and Editor

The Pagoda is a timeless and beautiful design with the reassurance of Mercedes’ solid engineering.

A revelation during a golden era of car design and innovation, the W113 series Mercedes SL instantly struck a chord with an appreciative audience when released in 1963. Captivated by its poise, style and grace, the Pagoda generation of the SL was notable for its dual coupe/convertible flexibility, along with its technical and safety virtues. Favoured by the rich and famous, the SL were reassuringly decadent, yet a byword for good taste and common sense. Hitting the zeitgeist during the swinging sixties, the SL’s star never faded and thanks to its evolution, constant improvement and desirability, it continues to command admiration to this day. Practical and comfortable, the Americans took to the Pagoda, appreciating the refined lines, gentle contours and solidity that the Paul Bracq designed Roadster-Coupe offered.

This 1970 example finished in Titanium metallic, with a red leather interior was imported from California in 2004 and has been in the same family since 2008. Fitted with the optional headrests and air-con, this smartly presented example has a current V5 and has been kept in dry secure storage since 2018. It comes with over ~£3,000 worth of invoices and its factory hardtop.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Jack the owner's son, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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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.

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.

Video #2

Meet the owner

I'm particularly impressed by the car's manners, having never driven it before.

Previously owned by Jack’s father, an avid Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, the car is one of several Mercedes SL’s in his collection. Jack was particularly impressed by the way the car drove, having never driven the Pagoda before.

Due to the car not being used by the family after inheriting it from his late father, Jack feels he needs to find the Mercedes a new home. He will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Jack
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

A handsome presence thanks to its sculptured lines and titanium colour, the Pagoda oozes sophistication.

Wheels and Tyres

The car’s wheels and smart-looking trims are in good shape. The factory fitted hub-caps are painted in a matching colour to the body, as was customary for the model.

Fitted with Michelin MXV tyres, known for their quality and performance, they’re all from 2017 and still have plenty of life left in them and retain a healthy inflation.

Bodywork

The bodywork is in positive condition, with the panels fitting properly and no major issues with corrosion or dents. The panels are flush with the body demonstrating even panel gaps. Both doors require a reasonable amount of force to close - particularly the passenger door. Both front wings retain their notches and the hood well is in great shape. The floor, suspension mounts, and chassis rails are in good condition. The boot floor and engine bay are also solid. The wheel wells are good, although there are signs of corrosion on the offside section beneath the off-side footwell and outer sill as pictured.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The Titanium grey metallic paintwork has held up well, with consistent coverage and a good lustre overall. There are a few surface marks on the finish, consistent with signs of storage. We also spotted a small paint crack on the bottom of the passenger door, some bubbles on the rear scuttle and a minor chip on the driver's side door.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The passenger side door glass is slightly out of alignment, but otherwise, the glass is in good shape and free of significant marks. The US-spec sealed-beam headlamp embellishments show minor cosmetic damage.

The chrome work has lasted well, retaining its US specification fittings. The trim and bumper are well mounted with mild signs of age in places.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

The stylish fittings and elegant detailings are highlighted by its near-perfect condition.

Seats and Carpets

The red leather seats were refurbished in 2009 and are in excellent condition; a delight to sit on.

The carpet is also tidy, free of any dampness and well-fitted. The boot has been well-kept and free of water ingress. An aftermarket plastic liner has been adapted to fit.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in excellent order, with decent facia padding and exquisite chrome fittings. All dials and controls are smartly presented and said to work, although the glovebox lid may need a minor adjustment. The air conditioning was not tested.

Both hardtop and soft top headlining and the rear trim are in smart condition, a loose carpet fitting being the only distraction. We noted that the door cards are missing their armrests/interior door grabs, but are otherwise in good shape.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel has a few fractures but still presents well. The gear lever is in good condition, and the gate trim shows wear.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

With evidence of good historic maintenance, the Pagoda retains its smooth and effortless charisma.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine fires up immediately without hesitation, idling smoothly and evenly. The engine is free of wobbles or unwanted noises when cold, and once warmed up settled down with no excessive exhaust fumes. The engine is smartly presented, showing no immediate observation of component wear, and all ancillaries and hoses look good. The car was leak-free on the day. It's fitted with a full stainless steel exhaust system.

The automatic gearbox operates smoothly, the shift point was a little jerky when the engine was cold, but it improved during the short test drive. It selects reverse and drive without problems, although the selector seemed a little loose.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension components are in good visual condition, and during the low-speed drive, the Pagoda absorbed the road without any thuds or creaks.

Jack was impressed with the car's braking ability, smooth without negative feedback.

The Drive

The Pagoda is one of those cars that attracts attention from almost everyone, appealing to those won by its aesthetics and elegant design. However, there is more to the car than just its visual attributes. As a compact and stylish tourer, there are very few cars of its era that match its refined manners, comfort and mechanical durability.

The car’s steering is direct, with no excessive play, and turns smoothly without vibrations. The 2.8-litre straight-six engine pulls well, the stainless steel exhaust set-up allows the car to breathe better with a charismatic rasp. The chance to try out the handling was limited due to the short low-speed test drive, but the decent tyres play a huge part in the confident manner the Pagoda presents itself.

During the drive, the oil pressure stayed consistent and there were no signs of issues with the engine temperature - the cooling fan did not need to kick in. We started the car several times after the engine had warmed up to no ill effects.

Electrics and Other

It comes with both locking handles for the roof. The car has also been fitted with a desirable Becker Digital radio and electric aerial set-up. It's installed with an aftermarket immobiliser, which is fully operational.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~17 year family ownership, the car was imported from California in 2004, it has been well-maintained and dry-stored ever since.

Imported into the UK in 2004 from its last owner in Palm Desert in California, it was bought by Jack's father in 2008, having seen ~£3,000 worth of expenditure, including work to the soft top, new hardtop seals, gear selector overhaul, new bushes, engine mounts and interior renovation.

The most recent work was carried out in 2018, which covered a service, fuel pump repair, new ballast resistors, wheel bearing adjustments and sundry maintenance. The car has retained several MOT certificates since 2004 and comes with its original handbook, workshop manual and some spares.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, 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 of 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 bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
10-08-2018 Service
25-07-2018 MOT 25,773
14-07-2015 MOT 25,770
01-07-2014 MOT 25,747
22-04-2013 MOT 25,720
10-04-2012 MOT 25,586
21-05-2010 MOT 25,418
17-11-2008 MOT 25,000
27-10-2007 MOT 22,487
19-09-2006 MOT 20,541
15-09-2005 MOT 18,891
04-06-2004 MOT 18,106
VIEW ALL
Key Details
  • Model 280 SL Pagoda
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Reg. Date 31-12-1970
  • UK Reg. Date 07-07-2004
  • CC 2,778
  • Mileage 25,801
  • History Since 2008
  • Colour Titanium
  • Interior Colour Red
  • Interior Trim Leather
  • Chassis # 11304412016646
  • Last Service 10-08-2018
  • MOT 25-07-2018
  • MOT Exempt Yes
  • Road Tax Exempt Yes
  • HPi Clear Yes - all clear
  • Former Keepers 4 in UK
  • Tyre Brand Michelin
  • Tyre Age 2017
  • Security Sys Aftermarket Immobiliser
  • LHD or RHD LHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Private
  • Owned ~16 years, 7 months
  • Key Feature California import with factory hard-top
  • Auction ID 2443
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Camberwell

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    Auction Bidding

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    Current Bid £1,500
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    Auction Ends Thu 6th Mar at 7.50pm
    Bidding History
    Previous Bids  2
    £1,500 bid by Tyson20.02.25 @ 11:12:06
    £1,100 bid by sdktc20.02.25 @ 11:00:42
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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a 280 SL like this is £312 via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Winter 2025.

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    Vehicle Location

    Camberwell

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