Mercedes-Benz 250SL Pagoda California

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A timeless beauty that will never go out of fashion, 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.

Conceived as a replacement for both the glamorous (if underpowered) 190SL and the hugely complex and expensive 300SL Roadster, the W113 was launched in 1963 and remained in production until 1971. Beginning life with a 150bhp fuel-injected 2.3-litre straight-six, it was soon joined by a similarly powerful 2.5 in 1966 and by the range-topping 170bhp 2.8-litre in 1967.

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. A rare combination of dainty elegance and muscular strength, it remains at least as desirable today as it was at launch over 50 years ago. Not just a pretty face, a 230SL was driven to victory in one of Europe’s toughest rallies, the Spa-Sophia-Liege in 1963.

This European-spec left-hand drive 250SL is the rare California model which had a good-sized rear bench seat in the space usually occupied by the fold-away soft top which was deleted on this version. Sharing the stiffer, sportier suspension of the early 230 model but with slightly more torque, the 250 is more agile than the heavier 280, especially when fitted with the rare 4-speed manual gearbox, as here.

First registered in January 1967, in appears to have spent most (if not all) of its life in America and for the last few years was owned by a dentist in New Orleans from where it was imported to the UK a couple of months ago with all duties paid. Looking wonderful in white with a black hard top and a black interior, it has never been exposed to the salt-laden roads that UK cars have to contend with and appears to be in very sound condition throughout with good brightwork both inside and out.

Since arrival on these shores it has had a good going over to fix any issues including a brake overhaul with new flexi-hoses, fresh brake fluid and rebuilt rear callipers. Underneath has also been properly protected with a quality 3M underseal and the power steering, wipers, heater blowers and original radio all function as they should.

Displaying some 41,000 miles on the clock, it comes with various bills for maintenance and upkeep while in the USA but has been used only sparingly in recent times, covering just 3,000 miles since 2007. Said to run and drive well with an MOT until September 2016 with no advisories recorded, it certainly started easily and bowled along nicely when we were treated to a short test drive on the occasion of our visit to take these pictures.

Being offered here at around half the price of a comparable right-hand drive example, this beautiful roadster is sure to bring a great deal of pleasure to its fortunate new owner and should more than hold its value if past performance of this ‘blue chip’ classic is anything to go by. Making it something of a ‘no brainer’ at the sensible guide price suggested, we hope you will agree…