Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda

Without doubt one of the prettiest roadsters ever made, the Pagoda SL is also superbly well built and is one of those rare classics that you can genuinely use every day. 

Launched in 1963, the W113 class (as it was properly known) eventually spanned three engine sizes, all fuel-injected: the initial 150bhp 2.3-litre; the similarly powerful 2.5 in 1966 and the 170bhp 2.8-litre in 1967. Suspension was by double wishbones and coil springs at the front, with a coil-sprung swing axle at the rear. All cars had front disc brakes (and rear on the 280) with power steering from 1964 onwards, and all models were capable of over 110mph.

All looked identical with a low waistline, wide stance, fishbowl headlamps and big curved greenhouse windows topped with that distinctive dished removable hardtop – hence the 'Pagoda' name. The styling perfectly sums up the car, being elegant yet muscular and sporty yet immensely solid, a rare combination of virtues which make it a timeless beauty that is always highly sought after. Not just a pretty face, a 230SL was driven to victory in one of Europe’s toughest rallies, the Spa-Sophia-Liege in 1963.

First registered in April 1964, this automatic 230SL has had just six owners from new, the fifth of whom owned it from 1983 until 2012 but kept it unused and in storage throughout that time.

Acquired by the current engineer owner about a year ago, the car has since been treated to a total nut-and-bolt restoration which cost over £40,000 to complete (not including the many hours of work that the owner himself has invested in the car).

Looking absolutely stunning in Tunis Beige with a tan leather interior (the latter alone costing some £7,000), the car is now said to be in outstanding condition throughout. It also benefits from power steering which was fitted during the restoration. Supplied with both hard and soft tops, the car is due to have a fresh MOT before the sale and comes with its original green log book plus a modern V5C.

These wonderful motorcars are universally regarded as ‘blue chip’ classics and good ones are now routinely advertised at prices way in excess of the estimate on this one. In many eyes the 230 is the sweetest, best-handling model of all and if current trends continue this lovely example could prove to be a very shrewd investment.