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Auction Live

1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda (W113)

At a Glance

UK RHD | ~£200k Invoices | Beautifully Presented

  • Mileage~99,304 on clock
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine2.8L
  • LocationBridgwater

AUCTION LIVE

Days
HRS
MIN
SEC
CURRENT BID£90,000
See Bidding

AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£90,000

Introduction

Jacob Boodrie
Professional Consigner

Timelessly elegant, the Pagoda became an instant hit and remains as popular as ever.

The W113 "Pagoda" is considered one of the most popular and stylish classic Mercedes-Benz ever produced. It made its debut at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show and was in production until 1971.

This Mercedes Pagoda comes from just under a years ownership. The previous owners are said to have invested ~£200,000 in restoration and maintenance work with John Haynes Mercedes Specialists, where the vendor purchased the car from. The car has been re-trimmed in period-correct cream leather, resprayed in its original "Red Metallic" paint (code 571) and a mechanical overhaul. The car has just 5 former keepers recorded with the DVLA, and has been maintained and restored by the marque specialist since 2008.

This listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Chris the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I've always found the Pagoda a stunning car, after selling my Ferrari with Trade Classics, I knew I had to own one.

When Chris sold his 2005 Ferrari 430 Spider with us last year, he knew he wanted a classic Pagoda for weekend trips down to the coast. He found this immaculately restored example with marque specialist John Haynes, who have been maintaining and restored the car since 2008. However after purchasing the car, his wife decided it wasn't that suitable for long trips away with their dog, and so it comes up for sale much sooner than anticipated.

During his ownership, he hardly used the car, reserving it only for the occasional special journey. Although he would love to keep this sought-after 280SL/8 as part of his collection, he has decided that it's time to free up the garage space for a classic he'll use more often. Chris will be available to answer any questions about the car in the comments below.

Chris
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior

Few cars look as good, or offer the luxury touring experience that the Pagoda manages to deliver as a classic.

Wheels and Tyres

Fitted with chrome dish wheels with body-matching colored centers, it's a timeless look for this 280SL. On this example, the wheels seem to have been well cared for, with no obvious damage observed.

The wheels are equipped with Michelin tires, which appear to be in good condition. They are dated 2015 and have a substantial amount of tread remaining, with no visible cracking or other signs of aging on the outside sidewalls.

Bodywork

The bodywork of this Mercedes appears to be in great condition, with all the panel gaps around the car aligning very well visually. During our visit, we didn't spot any obvious dents on the car; everything looks sharp, and we didn't notice any signs of any corrosion, what you'd expect for a restored example.

The car comes with the "Pagoda" hard-top, in matching "Red Metallic", also in excellent condition.

We've provided detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a comprehensive view of what's on offer, and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

As previously mentioned, the car has been resprayed in the original and sought-after "Red Metallic" code 571 paint in 2016. The paint exhibits a high standard with even coverage, and it maintains consistent color across every panel.

Once again, we have provided high-resolution images and videos for your personal assessment of the paint condition.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this Mercedes 280SL appears to be in excellent condition as well. During our visit, we didn't notice any chips, cracks, or discoloration. The window seals also appear to be in good condition, reflecting the overall state of the car.

Please refer to the photos and videos for a detailed close-up view of this Mercedes 280SL/8. When getting really close to the car, we noticed a very small scuff on the paintwork/body where the hard top pins slot into the car.

Interior

Fully retrimmed in period-correct cream leather, the cabin offers classic sixties luxury with its original radio and instrument binnacle.

Seats and Carpets

The retrimmed cream leather seats are in lovely condition, and a similar story can be told for the door cards, rear bench, and carpets in the car.

For a comprehensive view of the cabin, please refer to the extensive media provided.

Dashboard

The dashboard in this 280 SL shows no signs of major damage or scuffs.

With no warning lights displayed, the odometer showed a reading of ~99,304 miles during our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original Mercedes steering wheel is in good condition, and the automatic gearstick also looks well-maintained over the years.

Please refer to the image gallery to see the interior details.

Mechanics

Incredibly engineered, the 2.8L straight-six offers combined with the smooth four-speed automatic transmission is the most popular choice.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine bay was beautifully presented, as to be expected for a restored example. On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed excellently on the road. The engine pulled nicely, idled smoothly, and ran without fault. The car was last serviced last year, ~300 miles ago.

Chris reports that the car drives well, with its smooth automatic gearbox powering the rear wheels. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around, and for a closer look underneath the 280 SL, as well as the smart engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension appears to be in great condition and provided a smooth, stable, and composed journey on the sweeping country roads. We've shared a video of the underside that was taken when the car was on a ramp at John Haynes in the comments section.

During our short drive in the car, it felt just as you'd expect for a luxurious Mercedes from this era; powerful, smooth, and well-balanced, coming to a stop without a fuss too.

The Drive

A real crowd-pleaser, both aesthetically and mechanically, the 280SL is a joy to drive, be a passenger in, and admired by onlookers. Whether with the roof down or up, you will always have a pleasant journey.

As mentioned previously, Chris has reserved the Mercedes for limited trips around his local town and country roads. The Pagoda fired up the first time with no issues to report. On the road, we didn’t notice any unusual noises coming from the engine or suspension either.

Electrics and Other

We didn’t test all the electrics during our visit, but Chris reports that, to his knowledge, all of the electrics are functional and operational, in line with the rest of the condition of the car. Take a look at the exterior video to see the convertible roof and hard top roof as well.

History and Paperwork

A UK supplied RHD, just 5 former keepers and beautifully restored to factory spec, this car has been maintained and restored by maque experts since 2008.

The car is coming out of just under a years ownership with Chris. A top of the line model, this 280 SL with 4 speed automatic gearbox in a very attractive factory "Red Metallic" code 571 paint over cream leather interior has to be hard to beat. The car presents very well, maintained both mechanically and cosmetically, with hundreds of pages of paperwork showcasing the work carried out, and invoices said to total ~£200,000. Take a look at the history and paperwork media to see previous MOT reports, specialist servicing, and restoration photographs that Chris is selling this car with.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
18.08.2023 Service 99,048
20.03.2023 MOT 98,962
11.03.2022 Service 98,869
10.03.2022 MOT 98,869
08.03.2021 Service 98,037
05.03.2021 MOT 98,037
10.03.2020 MOT 97,755
15.03.2019 Service 96,417
06.03.2019 MOT 97,401
- Service 96,417
05.03.2018 MOT 96,380
09.03.2017 MOT 96,331
26.05.2016 Engine Rebuild 94,992
30.11.2015 MOT 94,806
18.12.2014 MOT 92,373
20.08.2014 Oil Service 90,983
09.04.2014 Service 88,677
29.10.2013 MOT 86,993
30.05.2013 Service 82,302
07.11.2012 MOT 78,297
17.11.2011 MOT 74,390
16.11.2010 MOT 71,085
19.08.2010 Service 68,165
30.10.2009 MOT 59,514
30.10.2009 Service 59,508
12.11.2008 MOT 54,242
06.11.2007 MOT 46,322
26.04.2007 MOT 46,088
04.06.2005 MOT 45,390
Key Details
  • Model280 SL (W113)
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Reg. Date01.11.1968
  • CC2,778
  • Mileage~99,304 on clock
  • HistoryPresent
  • ColourRed Metallic (571)
  • Interior ColourCream
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #11304422005529
  • Engine #130983222003442
  • Last Service18.08.2023
  • RestoredYes
  • Engine RebuildYes
  • MOTNo. Exempt
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers5
  • Tyre TreadGood
  • Tyre BrandMichelin
  • Tyre Age2015
  • Security SysYes
  • # of Keys2
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~1 Year
  • Key FeatureFull restoration, UK supplied RHD
  • Auction ID1840


Auction Bidding

Live Bidding
Current Bid £90,000
£
Countdown Timer
0 Days
0 HRS
0 MIN
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Auction Ends Thu 2nd May at 7.00pm
Bidding History
Previous Bids  18
£90,000 bid by GeneralGleeson28.04.24 @ 14:33:33
£88,000 bid by Rovert28.04.24 @ 10:53:33
£86,000 bid by GeneralGleeson28.04.24 @ 08:27:37
£85,000 bid by Signature33328.04.24 @ 01:49:04
£83,000 bid by GeneralGleeson27.04.24 @ 22:43:13
£82,000 bid by 1stchoice27.04.24 @ 09:01:51
£80,000 bid by Bradshaw26.04.24 @ 22:34:01
£78,000 bid by Rovert26.04.24 @ 17:30:08
£75,000 bid by Bradshaw26.04.24 @ 16:28:23
£73,000 bid by Rovert26.04.24 @ 08:22:37
£70,500 bid by Signature33325.04.24 @ 18:43:07
£70,000 bid by Richard12319.04.24 @ 09:28:21
£60,000 bid by Phantom2518.04.24 @ 21:12:07
£50,000 bid by crycroft18.04.24 @ 18:40:30
£26,000 bid by Norwel18.04.24 @ 17:36:28
£25,000 bid by crycroft18.04.24 @ 16:31:01
£2,500 bid by JPMc18.04.24 @ 16:21:17
£1,250 bid by HknS17.04.24 @ 17:58:12
SEE MORE BIDS SEE MORE BIDS
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barraldo1
Member
barraldo1

Hello Chris
Any luck with MB for data card or confirmation that your car is definitely “”Matching Numbers “

Kulraj Salh
Admin

Hi, please look at the full listing details, specifically the “History and Paperwork” gallery where you’ll fid a copy of the Mercedes-Benz data card. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

barraldo1
Member
barraldo1

Very many thanks will review

barraldo1
Member
barraldo1

Hello Chris
You should be able to locate engine number plate just under where spark plugs are located kindly advise In addition you can contact MB to ask them for Data Sheet for your car which will be very helpful

barraldo1
Member
barraldo1

Do you have the Data Sheet from MB that will show Engine Number Gearbox number and Chassis number can you provide closeup photos of engine/chassis numbers
Many thanks

barraldo1
Member
barraldo1

Hello
Please can you kindly advise if your car is “Matching Numbers” Do you have MB Data Sheet. Where can your car be viewed/inspected
Hear back soon
Kind regards
Barry

Norwel
Member
Norwel

Hi, where and when can the car be viewed? Thanks

Kulraj Salh
Admin

Hi, we’ll be in touch to try and organise a viewing for you. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

Kulraj Salh
Admin

Auction Details – Video recorded on ramps when the car was at John Haynes; https://youtu.be/HwQSNMFpwH4?si=0JjAeryMku7-fWtg&t=125 . Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

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Insurance Quote


Average annual insurance premium for a Pagoda like this is £TBC via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

*Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Spring 2024.

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Vehicle Location

Bridgwater

Key Bidding Facts

What is your reserve policy?

A reserve is the minimum price that the seller will let the car go for. We work with sellers to set realistic reserves in line with market pricing – we don’t take on vehicles with unrealistic pricing. Reserve met / not met labeling may or may not be announced during the auction – this is just like a traditional auction house, i.e. bidders may only know when they’ve been successful at the end of the auction.

If the reserve hasn’t been met at the end of the auction then we work with the highest bidder to try to work out a deal with the seller.

Why shouldn’t I leave bidding to the last minute?

Auto-Extending Bidding – we’ve developed auto-extending auctions that mimic traditional auction house bidding; it’s a key feature to make sure classic vehicles achieve their true worth. Bids placed in the last one minute automatically extend the auction by two further minutes. So there is no need to leave bidding to the last second.

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