1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

This immaculate 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda lives in Knynsa and despite uncertainty about its early past, it stands today as one of the finest examples of a RHD 280 SL Pagoda you’ll find anywhere in South Africa.

Historical Context

In the wake of the hugely successful SL190 and SL300 ‘Gullwing’ models produced by Mercedes from 1954 to 1963, there came a new 2-seater touring roadster that would be known as ‘Pagoda’, owing to its unique concave hardtop roof design, which has made it a classic motoring icon for decades since its launch.

The W113 230 SL made its debut at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show and was introduced as “a very safe and fast sports car with high performance, which despite its sport characteristics, provides a very high degree of traveling comfort“.

The 230 SL was followed by the short-lived 250 SL in 1967 before Mercedes-Benz introduced the 280 SL roadster to market in 1968. The vehicle gained a more powerful 2.8-litre, improved systems and its inline 6-cylinder petrol engine came with the option of a 4-speed automatic or manual transmission.

The Pagoda’s elegant form was penned by lead designer, Paul Bracq, and the model introduced ground-breaking safety features for its time including a rigid passenger cell, crumple zones and a collapsible steering column.

The use of aluminum body panels, particularly for the bonnet, boot lid and doors skins helped reduce the Pagoda’s overall weight, living up to its SL nomenclature which means Sportlich-Leicht or Sport Lightweight.

The 280 SL’s front-end design is punctuated by oversized “fishbowl” Bosch headlights and the large three-pointed star positioned in the centre of the grille, the latter of which reminds of the iconic SL300 ‘Gullwing’ which preceded it.

Few classic cars can match the 280 SL’s timeless panache…

Production of the 280 SL Pagoda ended in March 1971 bringing its 8-year production cycle to close with close to 49 000 units built, of which a very small percentage were right hand drive.

History of this example

1968 Mercedes-Benz W113 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ Automatic
in South Africa

This Right-Hand-Drive (RHD) W113 280 SL Pagoda is one of the earliest 280 SL’s to roll off the production line in March 1968, of which about 24 000 were built.

South Africa has for a long time been a strong market for Mercedes-Benz. The initial destination of this vehicle is not yet known and the first record of the car is 1984 when it was registered to former Rhodesia and Northern Transvaal cricketer Graham Thorne.

It was acquired in 1994 by Mr Udo Bichler, a German National with business interests in South Africa. He kept a meticulous record of all work done on the vehicle, including a minor accident in 2004. He spent a limited time of the year in South Africa, most of it in Cape Town, and the Pagoda in Johannesburg was seldom taken out and driven.

After 20 years in Bichler’s ownership, the Pagoda was acquired into The Parnell Bruce Collection in 2015. Well-known local SL and Pagoda expert, the late Bernd Roeloff, was asked to inspect the car and in 2019 the decision was made to undertake a full restoration.

Over a period of 3 years, the bodyshell was restored to factory specification and the interior was finished in local black leather. All the major drivetrain components and systems were serviced and recommissioned.

Specialist work was routinely outsourced with assembly and detail work performed by the dedicated team at Classique Edge. A new stainless steel exhaust was fitted, but both the soft top and hardtop have been retained in their good original condition.

For the Pagoda to be correctly registered on NaTIS, it is imperative to obtain a Manufacturer Certificate of Origin. This is the Data Card for Mercedes. Surprisingly, the process to procure this Data Card has proved difficult and time consuming.

The Parnell Bruce Collection includes a 2013 R231 SL 500 “Edition 1” which includes the full “AMG” upgrade package.

This immaculate Pagoda stands alongside a trio of special vehicles including a 1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 and a 1969 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 OTS which together represent the pinnacle of British and European sports car design and development at a time that is commonly accepted as being the end of the classic era for the analogue automobile.

If you’re interested in finding out more, please Contact Us.

Also see: 

1969 Ferarri 365 GT 2+2

1969 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 OTS

Quick Facts: 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda