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Description

MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL W113 “PAGODA” — 1969

An example of the most evolved version of the legendary W113 series, with particularly interesting specifications, a refined color combination and equipment focused on comfort.

IDENTIFICATION DATA

Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: 280 SL
Series: W113
Year: 1969
Chassis: W113.044-12-009209
Engine: 130-983-12-005833
Engine type: M130.983
Displacement: 2,778 cc
Odometer: 3.042
Exterior color: Ivory
Interior: Tobacco-colored leather
Soft top: Brown, in Sonnenland
Transmission: Automatic transmission
Steering: Power steering
Windshield: Tinted blue
Wheels: Whitewall tires
Mirrors: Dual exterior rear-view mirrors
Radio: Period Blaupunkt
Registration: Properly registered in Italy
Inspection: valid until January 2028

ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC MERCEDES-BENZ MODELS EVER

The Mercedes-Benz W113 represents one of the most important chapters in the history of the sporting and grand touring cars produced by the Stuttgart-based company. Presented in 1963 at the Geneva Motor Show, the W113 simultaneously replaced two highly prestigious models, the 190 SL and the 300 SL, offering an unprecedented blend of sportiness, elegance, safety and comfort.

Its most recognizable feature is naturally the removable hardtop with its concave profile, a stylistic and technical element that gave rise to the iconic nickname “Pagoda”. The car was also developed with particular attention to safety, adopting Mercedes-Benz’s philosophy of a rigid passenger cell combined with bodywork zones designed to progressively absorb impact energy.

The W113 family was produced in three versions, 230 SL, 250 SL and 280 SL, for a total of 48.912 examples built between 1963 and 1971. The 280 SL was the final and most evolved interpretation of the series, with a total of 23.885 units produced between 1967/68 and March 1971.

THE 280 SL: THE PAGODA’S FINAL EVOLUTION

The 280 SL represents the evolutionary pinnacle of the W113 family. Compared with the previous 250 SL, Mercedes-Benz introduced the more powerful 2.8-liter M130 engine, with different camshaft timing that made it possible to achieve 170 HP, 20 HP more than the 250 SL, accompanied by an increase in torque. Mercedes-Benz Classic specifically emphasizes the improvement in power and torque achieved by the 280 SL over the previous version.

The M130.983 inline six-cylinder engine, with a displacement of 2,778 cc and mechanical fuel injection, produces approximately 170 HP at 5,750 rpm and 240 Nm at 4,500 rpm. Top speed is in the region of 200 km/h, while 0–100 km/h acceleration takes approximately 9 seconds, figures that were particularly significant for a grand tourer of the 1960s.

The 280 SL also retained the technical layout that had made the W113 famous: a longitudinally mounted front six-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, a chassis designed to offer a balance between road behavior and comfort, disc brakes and a sophisticated true grand-touring setup.

A 1969 EXAMPLE

The year 1969 places this car in the midst of 280 SL production. According to the available production data, 8.047 280 SLs were built in 1969 alone, within total model production of 23.885 examples.

Although the 280 SL is not the rarest W113 numerically — that distinction belongs to the 250 SL, of which only 5.196 examples were built — the 280 SL represents the final, more powerful and more evolved version of the Pagoda and is today particularly appreciated for its combination of classic design, performance, mechanical reliability and greater usability compared with the earlier versions.

PROVENANCE AND SPECIFICATIONS

The car was imported from Germany with instrumentation in kilometers, but is presumably of US origin, based on the specifications present on the vehicle.

This indication is deliberately retained as a presumption of origin and not as certain documentary evidence, an especially important distinction for a correct historical and collector-oriented description.

The car has been partially restored and presents itself in excellent condition mechanically and in terms of its bodywork and upholstery, with a particularly elegant and sought-after color combination: ivory bodywork, original tobacco-colored leather interior and brown Sonnenland soft top in the same shade.

The combination of the ivory bodywork and tobacco-colored interior gives the car an extremely elegant character, typical of the great Mercedes-Benz models of the era, without sacrificing the Pagoda’s personality.

EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES

The car features particularly interesting equipment:

Automatic transmission, a solution that prioritizes comfort and ease of use, particularly appreciated even in modern traffic;
Power steering, making driving easier during maneuvers and in urban use;
Blue-tinted windshield, a comfort feature that also characterizes the vehicle’s specifications;
Original tobacco-colored leather interior;
Whitewall tires, emphasizing its elegant period character;
Dual exterior rear-view mirrors, a detail of particular interest also in relation to the specifications present on the vehicle;
Period Blaupunkt radio, which coherently completes the equipment and contributes to the authenticity of the onboard experience.

The combination of automatic transmission, power steering, blue-tinted windshield and dual exterior mirrors makes this Pagoda particularly comfortable and usable, without compromising the charm and personality of a true historic automobile.

DOCUMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS

The car is properly registered in Italy and is listed as having its inspection valid until January 2028.

The available information therefore confirms the regular Italian registration status and the validity of the stated inspection. However, the material provided does not specify any historical certifications from ASI, FIVA, Mercedes-Benz Classic or other authenticity certification bodies; any such attestations may be highlighted separately if present in the vehicle’s documentation.

FINAL CONSIDERATION

This 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL W113 represents a particularly interesting proposition for enthusiasts of the three-pointed star and for collectors seeking a 280-series Pagoda, namely the final and most evolved generation of the W113.

The chassis W113.044-12-009209, engine 130-983-12-005833, refined ivory/tobacco/brown color combination, original leather interior, Sonnenland soft top, automatic transmission, power steering, blue-tinted windshield, dual exterior mirrors, whitewall tires and period Blaupunkt radio come together to create an exceptionally appealing package.

A historic car that combines the iconic value of the Pagoda, the technical evolution of the 280 SL and a configuration particularly suited to being enjoyed even today.

This description has been automatically translated. Original language: Italian.

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Technical Details

Vehicle data

Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model series: SL-Class
Model name: 280 SL
Manufacturer code: W 113
First registration date: Not provided
Year of manufacture: 1969
Mileage (read): 3,000 km
Chassis number: Not provided
Engine number: Not provided
Gearbox number: Not provided
Number of owners: Not provided

Technical details

Body style: Convertible (Roadster)
Power (kW/hp): 125/170
Cubic capacity (cm³): 2778
Cylinders: 6
Doors: 2
Steering: Left (LHD)
Gearbox: Automatic
Gears: Not provided
Transmission: Rear
Front brakes: Disc
Rear brakes: Disc
Fuel type: Petrol

1969 | Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

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