Lot 119: Mercedes-Benz 250SL "Pagoda

While the 190SL had mimicked the styling of the, much more powerful, 300SL it flattered only to deceive. The all new 113 SL of 1963 delivered on all fronts. The dished roof of the hardtop was responsible for the Pagoda title but the 113 offered more than great styling. The hidden hood idea was not new, the Americans had done it many times, but the way it was achieved in the 113SL was simply superb.Under the bonnet was a fuel injected 2.3 litre, 150bhp, straight six, which could deliver 120mph and a cruising speed of 100mph. The car had servo assisted brakes with discs up front and good road manners. In 1967-68 the engine was replaced with the new 7 bearing 2.5 litre unit but the final incarnation of the "Pagoda" had the 2.8 litre, 170bhp engine, disc brakes all round and slightly softer suspension. With less than 50,000 examples sold in 8 years, the Pagoda remains relatively rare but the model was very successful for Mercedes.The 250 is, by far, the rarest of the 113 SL range. Only built in 1967/68, production numbers were tiny at only 5196, while the 230 ran to 19831 examples and the 280 to 23885. The rhd numbers are not known but they were only a fraction of the total, with the majority heading for the USA in lhd form.Very popular on the West Coast of the USA, the 113SL was to be seen in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Los Angeles and Palm Springs. This was the spiritual home for the "Pagoda" SL and is the place to source one that is rust free. This is exactly what is offered here.This ex California, LHD example was imported into the UK in 2003 as a totally rust free, immaculate car. The only exception was the interior, which was original and tired. The original vinyl trim was replicated in leather and is now quite superb and puts the final touch to this exceptional example, which is thought to have covered only 50000 miles from new.As a 250, the car has the 7 bearing, 6 cylinder, 2496cc engine, which is mated to an automatic transmission. Described as being in A1 condition, the car is UK registered, has an MoT through to November 2007 and historic road tax to April 2007. It is finished in white with blue interior, has both hard and soft tops and requires nothing other than a new owner.