1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

As you might imagine, the highly-prized, ever-popular and much-sought-after Mercedes-Benz SL is a fairly familiar sight here at our Oxfordshire HQ.

They are revered as classics for a reason.

Whatever the iteration - gull-wing, pagoda, ‘R’ variants ranging from 107 to 231 - the base DNA remains the same: exceptional quality married to brilliant engineering in an enduringly attractive and luxurious package.

This one is a fine example of the marque and the model.

It comes to us via a vendor who has owned the car since 2013, the year in which the car was stripped back for a glass-out, bare metal restoration, had all and any remedial work carried out to the bodywork and was repainted.

Among much other work undertaken at that time, the car received new front wings, new sill covers (on both sides), and had all the brightwork re-chromed.

The car’s odometer is showing an indicated 80,500 miles today. In 1996 the figure was 71,074 miles.

So, as you will by now have discerned, this splendid vehicle has been used very sparingly over the last few decades.

This classic 280SL ‘pagoda’ really is as pretty as a picture and presents equally handsomely wearing either its hardtop or its folding black fabric roof. 

Being a Mercedes-Benz of a certain vintage and having been built in Germany by Germans, the panels gaps and shut-lines are as Teutonically crisp and exact as you would hope and expect.

The bodywork is straight, true and devoid of any significant dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds that shouldn’t be there.

The only deviation from that observation is around the lip of the o/s/f wheel-arch, where the inside of the rim is slightly bent out of shape and the paint has split.

In general, the red paintwork has stood the test of time with plenty of fortitude and the finish has mostly done a good job of retaining its shine and lustre.

We know that some paint is missing underneath the front grille because we can see the reflection of the grille’s underside in the flawlessly shiny chrome of the front bumper.

There’s also some nascent bubbling making itself known near the bases of both rear wheel-arches and, elsewhere, there are some scratches at the middle of the hard-top; a few chips to the rear edge of the driver’s door; a scratch atop the o/s/r wing; and a noticeable paint chip on the n/s/r wing where the bodywork meets the hard-top.

The wheels are in excellent order and are shod in matching Michelin MXV rubber that appears to have plenty of life left in it.

The chrome-work is good throughout, save for some scratches to the windscreen surround sections running up the ‘A’ pillars.

There is some delamination at the nearside base of the windscreen.

The black fabric hood is in fine fettle, fits snugly and goes up and down with a minimum of resistance or dissent.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all in very reasonable condition. 

We have a soft spot for the interiors of W113 pagodas.

Everything is built to the highest possible standard - and built to last - and the attention to detail is exquisite. 

The overall aesthetic is classy, elegant, understated and, despite the wholly analogue nature of the interior, surprisingly modern in feel and ambience.

The interior of this particular car, you’ll be pleased to hear, is up there with the best of them.

The black upholstery is untroubled by holes, splits, tears or other aberrations, and the seats are as comfortable and welcoming as they are supportive and functional.

The door cards and the linings of both the soft- and hard-tops are good, as are the black carpets and mats.

All of the delightful wooden elements are in very decent order and are a joy to behold, as is the glossy red finish on the dashboard.

We noticed that the chrome ring around the ignition slot is only loosely attached and may be inclined to fall off.

The steering wheel, gear selector and handbrake all look good to us and, as far as we’re aware, all buttons, knobs, switches, levers, gauges and dials do what they’re asked to do in a timely, faithful and accurate manner.

The boot is as impressive as the rest of it and contains a car cover and a full-sized spare. 

The engine bay looks to be reassuringly clean, dry, tidy and everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car seem sound, solid and strong - nothing we’ve seen has given us any cause to tut, frown or otherwise question the car’s character or integrity. 

The car was last serviced by marque specialist Roger Edwards Motors of Amersham in March 2026, at which time the car also received a new battery, gearbox mount, tie rod bushes and prop-shaft coupling. This example also benefits from a new radiator supplied by the SL Shop and being fitted just over a month ago.

The seats were re-padded in 2020.

There are many bills, invoices and receipts covering work carried out in recent years, mostly through Roger Edwards, as well as other paperwork going further back.

The car comes with an owner’s manual, full sets of keys, a recent HPI report and a V5C.

Any pagoda SL is a fine and covetable thing, and this one is a very good example of the breed.

One or two minor cosmetic tweaks aside, it wants for nothing and is in first-class mechanical and dynamic order.

We like it a great deal and we’re confident that you will, too. 

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £65,000 - £75,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.