For Sale at Auction: 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL in Scottsdale, Arizona

This unrestored example from 1966 is offered from a noted Mercedes-Benz dealer/collector and particularly compelling with its high originality and just one repaint in original Code 568 Signal Red for the body and Code 040 Black to the removable hardtop and rockers. Other highlights include a (color) convertible top, body-color factory steel wheels mounting correct hubcaps and trim rings, a driver-preferred 4-speed manual gearbox, a working period-correct Blaupunkt AM/FM/SW radio, and power steering. The interior remains highly original with inviting Black upholstery, an unrestored dash, and the original White steering wheel showing few signs of wear. Just 84,535 miles are indicated at the time of writing. Accompanying items include an original roadside jack, lug wrench, and wheel chock, plus chassis, body, and owner's manuals. Never fully restored, this wonderfully original and well-preserved 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL is one of the most influential postwar sports cars and one that offers an incomparable all-around experience. Its 6-cylinder engine and monocoque body/chassis design were in fact both derivatives of the Mercedes-Benz cars introduced in 1959, particularly the 220SE. The 2.3-liter engine was tuned to yield 30 additional horsepower and performance was brisk, with magazine road testers regularly clocking 10-second sprints from rest to 60 mph from the 150 hp six-cylinder 230SL and recording top speeds approaching 120 mph. While the later 250SL and 280SL benefitted from greater engine displacement and power output, the "purer" 230SL is considered the most nimble-handling and enjoyable to drive of the three by today's marque enthusiasts and owners. Debuted at Geneva in March 1963, the dashing new Mercedes-Benz 230SL succeeded the 300SL and 190SL at once, heralding its maker's new single-platform sports car policy. Combining obvious sportiness with its Paul Bracq body design, built-in safety features engineered by Bela Barenyi, and the heightened comforts demanded of a GT car, the new 'SL' immediately became the object of automotive desire for the most demanding buyers. Most visibly, the uniquely angular roofline of the Pagoda-shaped auxiliary hardtop provided a unique visual cue for the new car - and its endearing and enduring nickname.