1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda

•A left-hand drive, California-delivered 280SL Pagoda in Maroon with tan leather•Extensive refurbishment in 2015 including a full respray and new interior upholstery•Has been fully converted to European specification•Supplied with factory booklets, UKV5c and recent invoices

The Mercedes-Benz 280SL 'Pagoda' was introduced in December 1967 and continued in production through until February 1971. The W113 was then replaced by its successor, the all-new, but substantially heavier R107 350SL. Over the years, the W113 quietly evolved from a nimble 'sports car' into a comfortable 'grand tourer' and was usually equipped with four-speed automatic transmission. The final evolution of the Pagoda was the 280SL, launched in November 1967 with a host of technical improvements, and is now seen as the most refined iteration of the W113 series. The robust new seven-bearing, 2778cc, M130 engine developed 170bhp and perfectly suited the automatic transmission. New one-piece wheel trims distinguished the last W113 but alloys were now an option.

First delivered to California, this extremely well-presented example is finished in Maroon with Tan leather upholstery and has been subject to much expenditure since being imported into the UK in 2015. The car has benefitted from a professional repaint, a conversion to full European specification, and has been the recipient of a complete re-trim in high-quality tan leather, with invoices totalling £13,000.

More recently, in January 2018 it was sent for a final service and shakedown, bringing an already lovely car to the remarkable standard you see today. Work included a complete overhaul of the injection system, overhaul of the brakes, and a major service of the engine and gearbox along with many other items to ensure the car drives as well as it looks. It's accompanied by a history file containing factory booklets, a UK V5C, MoT, and invoices for work carried out over recent years.

The final and most desirable evolution of the Pagoda, the 280SL is the perfect classic car with looks that seem almost timeless, and the increased power and torque of the 280 transform what, in all honesty, was a pretty little boulevard car into a bit of a Sportster.