This Mercedes-Benz 280 SL has a provenance that extends far beyond the history of the automobile itself. Its original owner was composer and songwriter Georges Garvarentz, brother-in-law of Charles Aznavour; the verified documentation also connects the convertible with personalities such as Gina Lollobrigida, Louis de Funès, Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan and Brigitte Bardot. The car was ordered in an unusual three-seat configuration and comes with its matching hardtop. Since 2011, it has remained almost continuously preserved in the collection of the current owner; Matching Numbers and Matching Colors have been verified.
The 280 SL represents a Mercedes-Benz tradition in which an open two-seater was intended to be not only a sports car, but also a refined touring automobile. According to the verified documents, the vehicle offered here is a 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL with left-hand drive and a manual transmission. The available vehicle data specifies a displacement of 2,746 cm³, six cylinders and 185 hp or 136 kW.
The car comes with a hardtop. It was precisely this combination of an open convertible and a fixed roof that made the SL such a versatile companion – and in this particular case, it provides the setting for a remarkable story involving European music, film and high society.
The VIN is 11304410005845. As the structured database classification and the chassis number within the supplied data do not appear to be entirely consistent, no additional series designation is deliberately made. The verified vehicle documents are decisive for this description and confirm the year, model designation and identity.
The convertible is finished in gold-brown metallic. The photographs show a classically proportioned open Mercedes with extensive chrome detailing and the hardtop belonging to the vehicle. The warm metallic finish provides an elegant contrast to the black interior and suits the sophisticated character of its documented history exceptionally well.
Matching Colors have been confirmed on the basis of the verified documentation. According to the available information, the car entered the current collection in 2011 virtually untouched. No specific condition grade is assigned in the absence of a separate appraisal; likewise, no unsupported claims are made regarding paint thickness, previous bodywork or accident-free status.
The interior is fitted with black leather. A particular feature is the confirmed three-seat configuration. According to the documented history, this additional seating arrangement allowed passengers to be accommodated more casually in the open car – a detail that takes on particular historical vividness given the prominent individuals who are documented as having travelled in this Mercedes.
Before the car passed to the current collector, only the side bolsters of the front seats were renewed. Significant areas of the original leather remained preserved according to the available information. A Pioneer radio was later installed; according to the current owner, it dates from the period when the car was with Georges Garvarentz's nephew of the same name.
The available vehicle data specifies a 2,746 cm³ six-cylinder engine producing 185 hp, combined with a manual transmission and power steering. Matching Numbers have been confirmed on the basis of the verified documentation. The differing designation in the structured dataset is not used here due to the additional document verification.
The Mercedes was last started and driven without problems around three years ago. According to the current owner, it started immediately again in July 2026. Nevertheless, given the extended period of limited use, a comprehensive technical inspection is recommended before regular recommissioning.
The vehicle is currently not registered and is listed in the dataset as not roadworthy. No condition or valuation report is available. A reliable mileage figure is not provided in the available vehicle data and is therefore deliberately neither added nor estimated.
This is where the true distinction of this Mercedes lies. Its original owner was Georges Garvarentz (1932–1993), composer and songwriter as well as brother-in-law of Charles Aznavour. Garvarentz worked on both popular songs and film scores – and his Mercedes became part of this cultural environment.
The verified documentation establishes the car's connection with a remarkable group of prominent personalities. According to the records, passengers transported in the vehicle included Gina Lollobrigida, Louis de Funès, Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan and Brigitte Bardot. This gives the convertible a provenance that brings together music, film and automotive history in an unusual way.
Following the death of Georges Garvarentz, the Mercedes passed to his nephew of the same name. From there, it moved into the collection of the current owner in 2011 without any lengthy intervening period. It has remained there for around 15 years.
What is remarkable is not merely the number of famous names involved, but the continuity of the story: according to the verified documentation, this was not a showpiece subsequently attributed to a famous owner, but a car that was genuinely part of Garvarentz's private and social circle.
The available and verified vehicle documents confirm the identity of the Mercedes as well as its documented provenance. Also verified are the three-seat configuration, the matching hardtop, the gold-brown metallic and black leather color combination, as well as Matching Numbers and Matching Colors.
Following its long period in the collection, a technical inspection should be carried out before the car is returned to regular use. The successful start in July 2026 is documented, but does not replace a current condition assessment. No separate appraisal is available.
With historic automobiles, provenance can add something that can neither be restored nor recreated at a later date. This 280 SL combines an elegant open Mercedes configuration with the documented history of Georges Garvarentz and his circle within European music and film. The documented connections to Gina Lollobrigida, Louis de Funès, Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan and Brigitte Bardot give the car a cultural context that extends far beyond the history of the model itself.
Added to this are Matching Numbers/Colors, the unusual three-seat configuration, the hardtop and around 15 years with the current collector. After a prolonged period of limited use, the Mercedes now requires a technical inspection. From a collector's perspective, however, one thing remains above all: this is not simply a classic SL, but an automobile with an unusually personal and documented European history.
Famous names do not automatically make a car interesting. It becomes interesting when the car was genuinely part of their story. That is exactly what appeals to me here: this Mercedes was apparently not a display piece, but a companion in Garvarentz's world of music, film and friends. The fact that Lollobrigida, de Funès or Bardot travelled in it is fascinating; more important, however, is the coherent provenance behind it. Add gold-brown metallic paint, black leather, a manual gearbox and that unusual third seat. An SL in which the stories associated with the seats are almost as important as the mechanics beneath them.
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DE: Dieser Mercedes gehörte laut Vorbesitzer von 1974 bis 1993 dem Komponisten armenischer Abstammung, Georges Garvarentz (Athen 1932 - Aubagne 1993), Schwager von Charles Aznavour und Autor von zahlreichen Liedern (wie Retiens la nuit, Daniela, la plus belle pour aller danser) und Filmmusik (wie Un taxi pour Tobrouk, Paris au mois d'août, Soleil noir, Le tatoué, Les hommes de Las Vegas, etc). Dieser Wagen hat laut Angaben des Vorbesitzers regelmässig Kino- und Musikberühmtheiten wie Sylvie Vartan, Johnny Hallyday, Gina Lollobrigida, Louis de Funès, etc befördert. EN: According to the previous owner, this Mercedes-Benz 280 SL belonged from 1974 to 1993 to the Armenian-born composer Georges Garvarentz (Athens, 1932 – Aubagne, 1993), brother-in-law of Charles Aznavour and the composer of numerous songs, including Retiens la nuit, Daniela and La plus belle pour aller danser, as well as film scores such as Un taxi pour Tobrouk, Paris au mois d’août, Soleil noir, Le Tatoué and Les Hommes de Las Vegas. According to information provided by the previous owner, the car regularly transported well-known figures from the worlds of film and music, including Sylvie Vartan, Johnny Hallyday, Gina Lollobrigida and Louis de Funès. FR: Selon son ancien propriétaire, cette Mercedes-Benz 280 SL a appartenu de 1974 à 1993 au compositeur d’origine arménienne Georges Garvarentz (Athènes, 1932 – Aubagne, 1993), beau-frère de Charles Aznavour et auteur de nombreuses chansons, parmi lesquelles Retiens la nuit, Daniela et La plus belle pour aller danser, ainsi que de musiques de films telles que Un taxi pour Tobrouk, Paris au mois d’août, Soleil noir, Le Tatoué et Les Hommes de Las Vegas. Selon les indications de l’ancien propriétaire, cette voiture aurait régulièrement transporté des célébrités du cinéma et de la musique telles que Sylvie Vartan, Johnny Hallyday, Gina Lollobrigida ou encore Louis de Funès.
Guten Tag User 151859, da haben Sie komplett recht - der Wagen ist tatsächlich ein Baujahr 1968. Wir haben den Eintrag entsprechend angepasst.
User 151859Danke für die Klarstellung. Aber das Baujahr ist dann auf jeden Fall falsch, da Pagoden nur bis 1971 gebaut wurden
Sehr geehrter User 151859, vielen Dank für den Hinweis. Es handelt sich selbstverständlich um eine Pagode, Baureihe W 113. Die Beschreibung ist vollkommen richtig, allerdings hat sich bei den technischen Daten ein Fehler eingeschlichen. Vielen Dank für den Hinweis.
User 151312User 151817User 151312User 151312User 151859Das Foto ist von einem W113, nicht R107 wie beschrieben, was ist nun richtig?
User 151312User 150972User 151312User 142977
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