Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda Automatic

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One of the prettiest roadsters ever made, the Paul Braqc-designed Pagoda SL is also superbly well built and is one of those rare classics that you can genuinely use every day.

Launched in 1963 and remaining in production until 1971, the W113 class eventually spanned three engine sizes, all fuel-injected: the initial 150bhp 2.3-litre; the similarly powerful 2.5 in 1966 and the range-topping 170bhp 2.8-litre in 1967, which also had usefully more torque (180lb/ft against the 145lb/ft of the 230).

All were capable of at least 120mph and had front disc brakes, double wishbone and coil spring front suspension with a coil-sprung swing axle at the rear. To save weight, doors, boot and bonnet were made of aluminium. A choice of manual or automatic transmission was available, both four-speed.

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.

Delivered new to Great Britain in July 1968, this 280SL spent the next 21 years here before being shipped to Hong Kong in January 1989. The previous owner acquired the car in December 2000 and treated it to a thorough restoration which reputedly included many new panels and an engine-out respray, although there are no bills for this work. Air conditioning was also fitted at some point while the car was in tropical Hong Kong. It is also fitted with rear seats, a feature not often seen on this model.

In early 2007 the interior woodwork was refurbished, the seats retrimmed and a new set of tyres fitted along with a new soft top. The fuel pump was also rebuilt and new injectors, rear diff gears, transmission parts and head gasket fitted, the bill for this lot being £7,500.

In April 2007 the car was shipped back to Britain, the mileage at this time being 99,987. Since then it has been fitted with a new petrol tank, various steering and suspension bushes and new seat belts. In May 2011 it went to Pagoda specialists Silchester Garage for a good going over which included an engine tune, gearbox adjustment, new fan belt, crank seal, radiator hose, plugs, HT leads filters etc, with a bill for £2,245 on file. The following year it received a new brake servo, master cylinder and reservoir.

The vendor acquired the car in June 2011 but has only used it very sparingly; indeed the car has only clocked up some 500 miles since it returned to the UK. Said to drive well, it is taxed until April and MOTd until August 2015, the only advisory being a slightly worn lower steering arm bush.

It comes with a fair amount of documentation including much technical literature about the model and a copy of the original factory data sheet which details the specification of the car and confirms that it is still fitted with its original engine.