1971 Mercedes Benz 280SL
The W113 Mercedes Benz SL, commonly referred to as “Pagoda”, is an icon in its own right. The W113 chassis was designed around ideas of superb handling, sportiness, and vehicle safety. The short yet wide chassis was connected to coil springs on all 4 corners, and also featured swing axle rear suspension with trailing arms. Coupled with powerful disc brakes on all 4 corners as well as radial tires, the W113 SL provided a ride unlike most of it’s competitors of the time. Rigid crumple zones with impact absorbing front and rear sections enclosed the rounded interior corners- all meant it was a safer choice than many for the era. Light weight aluminum panels such as the doors, hood, trunk, and tonneau cover also served as a performance plus.
This 1971 Mercedes Benz 280SL is an excellent example of the W113 chassis. It is finished in its correct white over brown MBTex with a matching dark brown convertible top and hardtop. The paint is in fantastic condition as is the interior, soft top, and hardtop. Paintwork is recent as is the restored interior, including the wood trim. The body of the 280SL was entirely free of rust or corrosion, prior to the recent paintwork. The suspension was recently treated to a significant refresh to ensure that it provides the supple ride quality expected from a top-of-the-line Mercedes. The engine performs effortlessly, and the 4-speed transmission shifts through each gear with ease. Few cars offer such style and usability in a turn-key, ready-to-enjoy package.
