It’s hard to know why some cars become overnight sensations the way the “Pagoda” Mercedes-Benz SL has. They’ve always been wonderful cars with a devoted following, but perhaps the meteoric rise in values on the earlier SLs have driven some collectors to look for alternatives. However, I think it’s a mistake to regard the Pagoda as a consolation prize now that 300SL and even 190SL prices have moved out of reach, because the Pagodas are flat-out wonderful cars. They’re a much better blend of performance and comfort than the earlier cars, with daily driver usability and entertaining road manners that mean even a trip to the grocery store is a delight. In short, if you can have just one collector car, there’s an argument to be made that a W113 SL is an excellent choice.

This lovely Dark Maroon (it is NOT brown) 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL has a wonderful story to tell. It has had just three owners (actually two if you count one family as a single owner), with the current owner's mother acquiring it in 1972 when it was just a used car, and he inherited it upon her passing. We have a copy of the original ad in the local paper where the car was discovered, and it has covered just 39,643 miles since it was new. It was repainted a few years ago, an extremely high-quality job that replicates the original code 460G Dark Maroon finish, which is indeed a lovely dark plum burgundy color that’s simply gorgeous in person. With high-quality original sheetmetal underneath, there was no need for major surgery and this car has never seen the snow, so rust is a non-issue. It fits together the way Mercedes-Benz craftsmen assembled it, which means the doors close with a reassuring THUNK, the hood latches without being slammed, and the trunk swings on well-oiled hinges. Sight down the flanks and you’ll find no ripples or waves, just clear, undistorted reflections that make this car look spectacular. For those of you asking about the infamous “notches” by the headlights, they’re there but barely visible following the repaint, but the car’s quality speaks for itself and this is not an area you need to worry about—it has never been hit or damaged. The chrome is beautiful for being 47 years old, although a few replacements were made during the repaint, including the headlight bezels. Cosmetically, we find very few nits to pick on this SL.

The remarkable tan interior is completely original and really shows just how wonderfully preserved this SL really is. There's hardly a scuff or a stretch mark on any of the seating surfaces and the carpets show almost zero wear. Textures are uniform, which is a quick and easy way to spot repop interiors in the W113s, because the aftermarket stuff just isn't quite the same. The door panels are wrinkle-free with tidy little map pockets whose elastic is still holding taut—nice! Note details like the polished stainless surround for the door panels, the wonderful chrome metal gussets around the arm rest mounting points, and the strip of bright textured metal that stretches across the dashboard. The wood accents on top of the dash are in very good condition with no fading or delamination and even the pad is not cracked and backed by the sun; obviously this car has never been stored outdoors. The steering wheel is not cracked, the instruments are fully operational, and even the original Becker Europa AM/FM radio works like it should. Only the clock is inoperable, but that's not really a surprise in any old car. Under the dash you'll find the Kugelfischer A/C unit, which is also functional, although it could probably use a shot of Freon to return to top performance. The little wooden storage box between the seats is in beautiful shape, complete with its carpet insert and ashtray, and the carpeted area behind the seats looks like new. The tan canvas convertible top was replaced several years ago and is still in almost-new condition save for some minor soiling and the rear window is still crystal clear. You'll also be pleased to note that the top hatch cover shows the numbers '845' which match those on the hood and data tag. The removable hardtop is in original condition with original paint in fantastic condition and you can see just how precisely the repaint matches the original finish. It's quite remarkable. The trunk is equally well preserved, showing its original rubber mat, matching spare tire with cover, and a correct jack assembly.

It's powered by the original, numbers-matching engine, although Mercedes-Benz did not stamp a VIN into their blocks as American manufacturers did. However, it does show a correct 130-983-12-010487 stamping, which is correct for an American-market, left-hand drive, automatic transmission 2.8-liter 1970 280SL, and it matches the data card, so there's no question about its provenance. With a known history dating back to almost new, we can also say with confidence that the engine has never been out of the car and it has always been properly maintained. Fittings, hardware, and the important firewall pad are all original pieces that demonstrate just how good this car really is, and all the spot welds are highly visible along the fender lines. It's clean, but not detailed for show, but a car like this deserves to be driven, not pushed on and off a trailer to sit on a golf course.

And driving is what it does best. Turn the key and let the high-pitched fuel pump prime the fuel injection system, then crank the engine. It'll start, it always does. The first second or two seem hesitant, but don't touch anything, just let it sort itself out. Within five seconds of turning the key, it's smoothly humming at 1000 RPM and ready to play. There's plenty of torque on hand to make the SL feel energetic, but it never feels rushed or hurried, making it a fantastic high-speed cruiser for covering vast distances in a single stretch. There's a brawny exhaust note that only a big-bore inline-6 can deliver and I'm firmly of the opinion that the 4-speed automatic transmission is the best option on these cars, making them comfortable in any situation, whether it's hustling down a country road or commuting to work with you on a summer's day. Just imagine the excitement of finishing a day of work and having this waiting for you for the journey home!

The undercarriage is in the same condition as the engine bay: original, solid, but not detailed for show. Obviously it has never seen inclement weather where salt was a factor and the floors, rockers, and other structural members are 100% intact and in excellent condition. The transmission shifts cleanly, if a bit firmly, but that's how they all work, and the independent rear end is not a leaker, a common malady that's often expensive to put right. The 4-wheel disc brakes are confidence-inspiring and have been recently serviced, and there are signs of recent work on the steering components as well. And perhaps most remarkably, it's still wearing its original exhaust system, another clue to an easy life out of the elements and in the hands of a very responsible and caring owner. Steel wheels with color-matched hubcaps (again, in original condition) and recent 195/75/14 Goodyear radials look period-appropriate.

Documentation includes the original manuals, data cards, and other factory paperwork.

Look at our SOLD inventory and you'll see that we've sold quite a few of these cars, and this might just be the best we've seen yet. The color combination is sophisticated and elegant, the preservation is flat-out astounding, and the pedigree is bulletproof. Yes, you can complain that the notches are not 100% visible, but if you skip this car because of a detail like that just because the internet tells you it's important, well, you'll be missing out on one heck of a special SL. There's a reason these cars have skyrocketed in value over the past five or six years, and it's not just because they're pretty. Call today!