French registration papers

Close to new
More than €55,000 invested in the restoration
Superb configuration

Crowned with the international success of its 300 SL and 190 SL versions, Mercedes-Benz caused a sensation by unveiling its new roadster at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show: the 230 SL. Its elegant line tinged with sportiness seduces and highlights the talent of the young French designer Paul Bracq. In view of its hard top with a concave roof reminiscent of Buddhist monuments, the nickname "Pagoda" is added to the surname SL. It is automatically equipped with a 2.3-liter in-line 6-cylinder engine powered by Bosch direct injection which develops 150 hp and 22 mkg of torque. Regarding the transmission , it was fitted as standard with a 4-speed manual gearbox (5-speed optional) or a 4-speed automatic. In addition, its first-rate habitability and the quality of finish were surprising for the time.
The Pagoda we present in these pages is a 280 SL convertible first registered in the United States in September 1969. It is therefore equipped with a fully foldable soft top in its compartment, and a hard top which was optional at the time. As the chassis number indicates, this model is left-hand drive and is equipped with a 4-speed manual gearbox. Its colour scheme is also in line with the original, and is not very common. The dark red colour (code 542) is very elegant and goes well with the tawny leather interior. This Pagoda was purchased in 2014 from Top Classics, a dealer and restorer specialised in vintage Mercedes in Belgium. As the car needs restoration, Top Classics will first of all take care of the mechanics for an amount of €14,900. Its current owner will then take care of completing the restoration in France between 2015 and 2019. In total, more than €55,000 will be invested in this 280 SL, which is justified in the invoice file attached to the car. A large part of the work has been entrusted to the Ravé Automobiles Classic team, renowned for the quality of their work. After the long hours of labour and the sums invested in the restoration, our car is in almost perfect condition, not to say close to new, and is working perfectly. The 6-cylinder engine starts very well and the handling at the steering wheel is disconcertingly easy. The fact that this 280 SL is equipped with a mechanical gearbox is a real plus as the majority of models sold in the United States were equipped with an automatic gearbox. The quality of its restoration and its configuration make it a very attractive 280 SL given its particularly reasonable estimate.

This car will be sold by auction by AGUTTES Auction House, in Paris, France, on March the 21th, 2021.
The digital catalog and information about health situation will be updated on our website.
https://www.aguttes.com/catalogue/111255
Please contact us for any further details.
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