Mercedes 280 SL ‘Pagode’ - 1969 by Perico001 W113
Collection Freddy Deklerck
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2019
Estimated : € 70.000 - 90.000
Sold for € 66.700
'For those who value engineering finesse and high quality construction, it’s alone in the field,’ enthused Road & Track magazine, while its manufacturer considered the 280 SL, 'a Grand Tourer in the traditional sense’ and 'a unique combination of sports car performance and saloon car comfort (a Mercedes-Benz saloon naturally).’
These attributes help explain the 280 SL’s phenomenal success, particularly in the all-important North American market where the optional automatic transmission was considered an essential feature by the majority of customers. The fact that it looked like 'sex on wheels’ helped enormously too, of course. The 280 SL’s essential user friendliness broadened its appeal beyond the traditional sports car-enthusiast market, and many celebrities and film stars owned 280 SLs.
The last of a popular and extremely successful line begun with the 230 SL of 1963, the Mercedes-Benz 280 SL was introduced in 1967 powered by a new 2.8-litre six-cylinder engine that produced 180bhp, 20 horsepower more than the preceding 250 SL’s. The 280 SL’s 200km/h top speed was no greater but it was significantly quicker off the mark, its 0-100km/h time of 10 seconds being a whole second better than its predecessor’s.
Autocar was full of praise for the 280 SL’s effortless performance: 'Those going abroad will be pleased to know that the 280 SL can sustain 160km/h with ease, and still have a good bit in hand for surging up to 120mph when traffic and conditions permit. All the time the engine is smooth and it has a sweet song to its exhaust note, which starts as a deep throb and builds up to a busy hum at maximum revs.’
Christened 'Pagoda’ after their distinctive cabin shape - devised by French designer and classic car enthusiast, Paul Bracq - these SL models were amongst the best-loved sports-tourers of their day and remain highly sought after by collectors.
This unmolested and highly original example was bought by the current Belgian owner in 2005 through a dealer from the first lady owner in Lausanne, Switzerland it is believed. The car has clearly been well looked-after; the doors close excellently - just like new - and we believe it has only had a re-spray. Other than that, this SL is highly original and in very good condition, while the vendor advises us it is in full working order. The car is offered with Swiss paperwork and proof of EU taxes paid. https://flic.kr/p/TM57K5
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