Vehicle Description
This lovely, fully restored 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL has a great,
low-ownership history that's always been under the care of
collectors, and given how popular these cars are right now, we're
pretty sure it won't last in our inventory very long. It's one of
those clean, usable pedigreed cars with an expertly applied paint
job and luxurious interior, and is one of the cleanest "Pagoda" SLs
we've ever featured.
Quickly becoming a highly-sought collector's item, this SL is
finished in a stunning coat of Anthracite Grey, which we feel is a
beautiful upgrade from the original code 670 Light Ivory that this
Merc was originally painted in. It's a subtle, sophisticated car
that doesn't need bright red paint to attract a ton of attention.
Even though they're small two-seaters, the Mercedes SL has always
carried a ton of presence, and this one is no exception.
Mercedes-Benz assembly quality is legendary, and in the 1960s and
early 1970s, these cars were arguably the finest in the world. The
doors still open and close effortlessly, and despite the open top,
it's as solid as any closed model, especially with the accessory
hardtop installed. The expertly-applied repaint gives it a soft
shine that looks entirely appropriate on the vintage roadster, and
was done to a very high standard that still looks impressive today.
All the trim is in immaculate condition, including an elegant
grill, bright bumpers and lenses, and chrome surrounds which make
the little car sparkle.
The entire red leather interior was restored at the time of the
complete restoration, and it looks just as good as the exterior
today, providing an awesome high-end complement to the slick grey
finish on the exterior. Everything was redone in a pattern that
matches the original-style upholstery pattern from 1970: the seats,
kick panels, A-pillars, dash, and even the brim of the boot cover
for the soft-top. Even the wood components, particularly the strip
of timber along the base of the windshield and the lovely little
package tray between the seats is beautifully refinished, and the
machined metal in the dash is slick and modern looking, light-years
ahead of its time in 1970. You'll also note that this car carries
an upgraded R134a A/C system and a super-rare Becker Europa
AM/FM/Cassette stereo, which may have been borrowed from a later
model or may be stock, it's hard to say for certain. It's strictly
a 2-seater, and the useful package shelf behind the seats looks
virtually unused, with the cargo compartments underneath in
excellent condition. The trunk is surprisingly spacious for a Euro
roadster and it's outfitted with a correct rubber mat and a spare
with a matching cover, along with an always sought-after factory
tool kit. Overhead, you get a gray canvas convertible top for daily
use, as well as a removable color-matched hardtop to seal things up
when it starts to get chilly.
Clearly descended from the LeMans-winning 300SL's inline-six, the
believed 2.8 liter unit in this pagoda roadster is silky smooth and
energetic enough to move the little car with aplomb. Fuel injection
was still an uncommon feature in 1970, but those long intake
runners help bolster torque production, and combined with a slick
4-speed automatic transmission, it's a blast to slice and dice
through traffic. The engine bay is impeccably detailed, and
obviously this car has never seen inclement weather, which is great
because absolutely everything on this car was restored or replaced
with OEM parts, so it would be crying shame to treat it like
anything other than a member of the family. Underneath, it's as
nice as it is up top, and further protected by neatly applied
rubberized undercoating. There's a newer exhaust system with a
chambered muffler that gives it a burly six-cylinder soundtrack,
and BFGoodrich Touring T/A radials are wrapped around the original
14-inch steel wheels adorned with correct hubcaps, which sharpen up
the handling and finish the exquisite look.
Quite frankly, this is the nicest Pagoda we've ever seen, let alone
featured, and in terms of an investment you can drive, you can
scarcely do better than a 280SL. Even at this price, it's unlikely
to last very long, so if you're looking for an absolutely dialed-in
Pagoda SL, you likely won't find many nicer than this. Call
today!