Wanderlust

Tag: Pagoda

  • Style Icon and Rally Winner: The “Pagoda” from Mercedes-Benz

    Style Icon and Rally Winner: The “Pagoda” from Mercedes-Benz

    • The hardtop design of the SL model series 113 is reminiscent of Asian temples
    • World’s first sports car with a safety body
    • Rally dancers: Winner at Spa-Sofia-Liège 1963 after 5,500 gruelling kilometres
    • Genuine parts from Mercedes-Benz Classic ensure authenticity and thus value retention

    [source: Mercedes-Benz]

    “Close-up” – the name of this series from the Mercedes-Benz Museum says it all. Each instalment tells a surprising, exciting or behind-the-scenes story, illuminating details of a vehicle, an exhibit or an architectural or design feature. In the spotlight this time: Mercedes-Benz 230 SL “Pagoda” from 1964 in Legend Room 5: Visionaries – Safety and the Environment, 1960 to 1982.

    No. 8/2024: Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (W 113)

    Memorable: What an unconventional nickname for a car: “Pagoda”. The name was coined a long time ago for the Mercedes-Benz SL model series 113. This SL was called “Pagoda” for the first time in Italy, recalls former chief designer Bruno Sacco.

    Style icon: The name “Pagoda” is based on the sports car’s characteristic hardtop, which is slightly curved inwards and is reminiscent of Asian temples. The shape was designed by Paul Bracq, who became the first designer in the “Main Department for the Development of Car Bodies” at the Sindelfingen plant in March 1957. The pagoda roof is a stroke of luck for the image and design of the sports car. And of course the overall design: clear lines of great simplicity and lightness create an expressive elegance. Even decades later, Bracq still described the design of the W 113 as “perfect”.

    Stability: The idea for the concave roof line came from a technician. Force progressions in the bodywork are an area of expertise of Béla Barényi. He points out that a roof curved downwards is more stable than sheet metal that is curved upwards. This, however, is only of limited practicality for everyday use of the model series 113 since the hardtop of a sports car is rarely used with a roof luggage rack for transporting loads.

    Innovative: Another of Barényi’s inventions is of great significance in terms of safety: his concept for the body with crumple zones at the front and rear and a customisable passenger compartment in between. In 1959, the Mercedes-Benz model series 111 was the world’s first vehicle with this safety body. Of course, the new SL, which appeared in 1963, also had it – a milestone in the world of sports cars. This underscores why this SL is in Legend Room 5: Pioneers – Safety and Environment, 1960 to 1982.

    Predecessor model: The Geneva Motor Show from 14 to 24 March 1963 is the premiere venue for the 230 SL, the first version of the model series 113. The roadster with a 2.3-litre six-cylinder engine and 110 kW (150 hp) takes on a challenging legacy. It replaces two predecessors, the 190 SL (W 121) and 300 SL Roadster (W 198), both of which had been extremely popular and successful from the outset. The 300 SL had already become a legend with the coupé produced from 1954 on.

    A true all-rounder: With the new model, the company opts for a happy medium. The 230 SL is neither an uncompromisingly tough roadster nor a gentle boulevard sports car. It is a comfortable yet sporty two-seater with a high level of driving safety.

    Portfolio: The model series 113 is developed further. On 27 February 1967, the company presents the 250 SL, also with 110 kW (150 hp), but with a displacement of 2.5 litres and therefore greater torque. This is replaced less than a year later by the 280 SL with a 2.8-litre engine and 125 kW (170 hp), which is even more powerful.

    Rally racer: Motorsport is also in the genes of this SL generation. The victory of Eugen Böhringer and Klaus Kaiser in a Mercedes-Benz 230 SL at the Spa-Sofia-Liège long-distance rally from 27 to 31 August 1963 – around 5,500 kilometres at top speed – is legendary. Böhringer calls the sports car a “dancer” because it is more manoeuvrable than the saloon with its longer wheelbase.

    Young at heart: Production of the 280 SL comes to an end in March 1971. Its successor is the completely newly designed 107 model series. A total of 48,912 units of the three SL models of the W 113 are produced in eight years of production. Today, they are among the brand’s most popular classics. No wonder: they combine sportiness with a high level of everyday practicality, comfort and timeless elegance. The comprehensive supply of Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts available through the manufacturer is a major advantage when it comes to preserving any “Pagoda”. Looking for a part? Click here for the parts finder: https://teilesuche.mercedes-benz-classic.com.

  • Market Find: Signal Red ’68 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ in RM Sotheby’s Hershey Sale

    Market Find: Signal Red ’68 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ in RM Sotheby’s Hershey Sale

    This week is RM Sotheby’s Hershey Sale, part of the Hershey Car Week centralized around the Antique Automobile Club of America’s annual national meet in Hershey, PA. Not your typical wine and cheese car week such as Monterey or Audrain, Hershey gets a slightly different mix than you would expect from RM at the more opulent events. We’re particularly appreciative of classic drivers in their mix, and found this 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ (VIN 113.044.12.001739) to be particularly attractive.

    For the uninitiated, the ‘Pagoda’ name comes from the removable hard top produced with these cars, something that made them more luxurious as compared to the other convertibles competing with this W113-generation Mercedes SL from 1963 to 1971.

    Like a lot of classic cars, the W113 may have looked ungainly when the less curvaceous R107 with its dual round headlights and larger bumpers debuted in 1971. In the time since then though, the W113 has become more of an iconic classic than its successor, making them highly sought after and collectible with prices often going into six figures.

    This particular car is painted Signal Red (signalrot; non-metallic UNI; 568; Mercedes-Benz), a common name of the period for more basic and/or primary colors and often centering around traffic signals – Red, Yellow, Green and Orange. Signal Red then is more of a pure and basic red. It also looks quite good on the 280 SL Pagoda.

    Below is the full description of the car listed for sale in Hershey by RM Sotheby’s. You can also link directly to the car on RM Sotheby’s website that includes further documentation and many more photos HERE.

    Hershey 2024, Lot 176: 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’

    [source: RM Sotheby’s]

    • A wonderfully presented, early production “Pagoda”
    • Wears factory-correct color Signal Red (568) over black vinyl (131) with matching hardtop 
    • Offered from two decades of cherished, family ownership
    • Fewer than 76,000 actual miles indicated at time of cataloguing
    • Ideal open-air cruising configuration featuring power steering, automatic transmission, and air conditioning

    The elegant styling and undeniable appeal of the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL “Pagoda” made the German two-seater popular at the time of its first availability in the 1960s. Its long-lasting charm has sustained demand as a coveted collector car since then.

    The 230 SL debuted in 1963 and would be steadily improved upon, first with the 250 SL in late 1966, with displacement of its inline six-cylinder engine enlarged from 2.3 to 2.5 liters, followed a year later by the final iteration on the W113 chassis, the 280 SL, with displacement further increased to 2.8 liters. Production lasted until 1971 but its appeal with collectors and enthusiasts persists to this day, particularly with beautifully presented examples such as the one offered here.

    This early Signal Red over black vinyl 280 SL is a US-market car that was equipped new with the coveted optional “Pagoda” hardtop in matching Signal Red. Other factory features include single seats, power steering, a floor-shift automatic transmission, front and rear bumper guards, instrumentation in miles, a driver-side outside mirror, a Becker Europa radio, and whitewall tires. While manual examples are rarer, many collectors, including the consignor, feel that an automatic transmission is more fitting to the nature of the 280 SL.

    Over the past two decades, this lovely “Pagoda” has remained within the cherished ownership of the same family. While under their care it has been enjoyed on a regular basis and benefited from continual routine maintenance. Additionally, an aftermarket air-conditioning system has been added to improve the car’s specification to its most ideal open-touring configuration.

    As presented, this 280 SL indicated fewer than 76,000 actual miles at the time of cataloguing. A timeless classic that has only become more desirable as the years have passed, this attractive 280 SL is a delightful and approachable example of this storied model.