A Pagoda on the go
The Mercedes W113 was offered from 1963–1971, both in European and North American markets, with just under 20,000 of the roughly 49,000 built sold in the U.S. alone. The car was subdivided in the marketing and promotional materials based on which inline-six engine was installed, with the number reflecting the engine’s volume in centiliters. So, the 230 SL was 230 deciliters (2.3L), while the 250 SL and 280 SL were 2.5L and 2.8L, respectively.
The W113 was famous for its unusual ‘Pagoda’ style roofing, concave towards the center and sloping up towards the sides of the cabin. This was meant to make a stronger, lighter car than standard flat roof shapes, as well as increase visibility, but the W113 was the only major model to feature this innovation, without much subsequent investigation into its merits. This specific chassis was previously listed on Bring a Trailer in February 2023 and has returned to grace us once again. Let’s check out the changes below!
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Tickle the ole Ivory
The original factory color, Light Ivory, is still worn by this classic, but it has been given a re-coat sometime before the seller’s stewardship began in 2012, and there are a few minor cosmetic dents in the body which might merit another re-coat sometime in the future. While the body-color hard top is original, the black soft top is a replacement. The front bumper and grill are bent at a moderate angle, both done in chrome, and with the grille featuring a horizontal bar along the middle, which helps hold up the chrome Mercedes roundel logo prominently atop it. The rear bumperettes are also chrome, but with a gap between them.
A single side mirror can be found on the driver’s side, while on the passenger side, forward of the windscreen, a radio antenna is situated. Polished dual exhaust outlets are also found only on the passenger side. Rounding out the exterior are the 14″ steel wheels with body-color hubcaps that feature Mercedes silver roundels, shod in 195/75 Hankook Kinergy ST tires that feature a thin white-wall-stripe.
Redone in red and looking sharp
The entire interior has been re-upholstered and re-trimmed in matte red leather, from the two bucket seats with pleated lines to the padded dash and door paneling. The carpeting is also red, though not leather, of course. Even the lap belts are red.
As part of a 2022 restoration project, the white accent panels of the dashboard were repainted, as well as chrome re-plating of the various brightwork and polishing of the wood trim accent pieces. The carpeting was also replaced and given sound-dampening as part of the same restoration, which also involved the installation of a retro-styled Becker Europa TR Radio and work on the ventilation and air conditioning systems.
Power steering helps keep control of the all-white bi-spoke steering wheel, with the bar actually mounted below the central portion of the wheel, which is reinforced with a thin metal hoop. The instrumentation behind the wheel is done by VDO, with a 0-140 mph speedometer and a tachometer which redlines at 7,000 rpm. There are also auxiliary gauges in a central, rectangular black stack between the primary gauges. Cables and bulbs for the instruments were replaced in 2022.
Near-total refurbishment for a near-perfect engine
The M127 2.3L (140ci) inline-six engine has been extensively overhauled, with the full list being available on the listing, but highlights include an overhaul of the cylinder head, machining the block back into spec, installing oversized pistons, installing a new water pump, and replacing the exhaust manifold.
A high-torque starter was also installed as part of the refurbishment. Factory-rated, this engine could put out 148 horsepower; however, with the over-bored cylinders, that power output is likely increased considerably, as is the torque. All of that power is sent to the rear wheels by way of a four-speed automatic transmission. In addition to engine work, the seller also notes that suspension, steering, and brake repairs and refurbishments were also performed.
Suspension, steering, and brake work performed as part of the refurbishment included repainting various front suspension components and installing Bilstein shocks, as well as replacing the power steering gearbox, steering damper, rubber suspension components, front calipers, rear drums, and brake lines, with the latter being handled by front discs and rear drums. Actual mileage is unknown on this vehicle, and the five-position mechanical odometer has ticked over to 6,000 miles, with the owner noting they estimate their own alone contribution adds up to over 17,000 miles.
Final thoughts: A good-looking girl for her age, with a bit more work to be done
While a large list of repairs and restorations has been performed, both by the current owner and previous ones, there are still some imperfections that might merit a finer touch. Some parts of the bodywork are dented, and the owner reports some rust on the undercarriage (which can be seen in photos on the full listing). All in all, however, the hard work is done, with new or newly restored parts set inside, outside, and under the hood, as well as a few quality-of-life improvements like added power steering and air conditioning. If you are looking for a ‘project’ car where all the critical work has already been done, and you adore German engineering, this Mercedes 230 SL is a great pick!
