1967 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda

Introduced at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show and produced through to 1971 the 230SL was based on the W111 sedan platform, with a reduced wheelbase, recirculating ball steering, double wishbone front suspension and an independent single-joint, low-pivot swing rear-axle with transverse compensator spring. Offered with a 4-speed manual transmission, or an optional, very responsive fluid coupled 4-speed automatic transmission, the former was the more popular option in Europe.

Chassis ending "019050' completed manufacture on 24th November 1966 and was delivered to the first owner in early 1967 by Mercedes-Benz of United Kingdom. The original colour of Silver Grey Metallic (DB-Code 180), interior leather colour of Red 2500 (DB-Code 117) and folding fabric-top hood in Black 872 were applied then and have been reinstated in the same colours post-recent restoration.

This most thorough of restorations was executed by respected Mercedes-Benz restorers and craftsmen, Heaney Motor Company of Count Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Reputedly more than £38,000 has been spent on this car to achieve the standard to which it is now presented. A desirable manual gearbox car these versatile roadsters were well-sought in the early days of production being the chosen transport of revered motor racers Juan Manuel Fangio & Sir Stirling Moss amongst many other celebrities of the period.

The car is accompanied by a photographic record of the restoration taking place by Heaney Motor Company showing the depth and breadth of the work completed. We have had the pleasure of handling the sale of a number of similar Pagodas and confirm that the overall appearance of this car and the sympathetic attention to detail given during the rebuild is exemplary.

This Pagoda is accompanied by a handbook pack comprising Owner's Manual, parts catalogue and replacement Service Book (unstamped). Previous MOT's which also accompany the car show a mileage of 28,315 in 1976 advancing to 68,732 in 1995. Today, the car shows a believed-genuine mileage of 91,678 and is accompanied by a current MOT to 26th June 2015.

Mercedes-Benz of this period are popular to collector's the world over, we're told by previous buyers of similar cars that this may be because of all the cars they've returned home with from auction, these are the only ones that their wives' let them keep!...

Previous MOT's:1976-77 - 283151977-78 - 289011978-79 - 390771979-80 - 495581980-81 - 592491983-84 - 652301984-85 - 655981985-86 - 659781986-87 - 679731990-91 - 683511992-93 - 687081995-96 - 68732