1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL

An American importer by the name of Max Hoffman suggested to Mercedes that there might well be a market for a more civilized version of a Grand Prix car. Something tailored to deep-pocketed performance enthusiasts in the cash swamped post-war American market. He turned out to be very right indeed, and the U.S. remains the primary market for the SL to this day. Always more of a sporting grand tourer than a fully-fledged sports car, the SL was supplied with a standard folding fabric roof, while the optional hardtop gave almost sedan-like levels of civility. With the hardtop option box ticked, the convertible SL was a truly all-purpose, all-season car.

The 1965 230SL W113 presented here is beautifully presented in its freshly refinished correct color of white with a matching factory hardtop. Tastefully enhancing the aura of this SL is gorgeous dark blue leather upholstery that displays an elegant old-world patina that simply cannot be duplicated in a restored car. Lifting the lightweight alloy hood reveals the cleanly presented engine compartment and the smooth-running, Bosch-injected, single-overhead-cam, 2.3-litre M127 inline-six engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

Accompanying this car is an impressive stack of paperwork that documents the story of the car from service records dated as early as the 1960s. Most interesting is a photo of the car being lifted off of the ship after being transported from Germany to the U.S. at the port, as well as the original trade-in paperwork from 1965 with the valuation of a 1961 Mercedes Model 220. The service history can be followed through these forms spanning from the '60s, '70s, '80s, and as recent as 2018. Records of service in 2018 show the car had been taken in for differential servicing, front and rear differential lubricant replaced, transmission servicing, transmission pan gasket, screen cleaning, trans oil replaced and spark plug replacement.

W113 SLs have always enjoyed a broad enthusiast base thanks to their unique blend of sophisticated 1960's aesthetics with a surprisingly modern and effortless driving experience. The 230, the first of the Pagoda SLs, struck a special chord as a fabulous grand tourer, and this car is no exception. This lovely, well-documented Mercedes-Benz is perfectly suited for club events, tours, or pleasant top-down drives down country lanes.

Please note: This 230SL underwent an extensive service in March of 2023 and detail of the engine bay. Virtually every piece of rubber was replaced under the hood. The radiator was rebuilt, firewall insulation replaced, plugs and wires, belts, water pump, thermostat, all cooling system hoses.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the W113 230SL Coupe/Roadster to the public in 1963. A new car from the ground up, it replaced both the four-cylinder 190SL and the exotic 300SL roadster. Rather than attempt to create a direct replacement for the costly 300SL, Mercedes-Benz chose to bridge the gap between the two outgoing cars, creating a sophisticated, stylish sports-tourer built with the exceptional quality Mercedes buyers expected. Designed in-house by Paul Bracq, the handsome body styling was crisp and modern, a drastic departure from the swoopy coke-bottle shape of the 190. One of the most distinctive features was the removable hardtop's concave roof panel that, when viewed from the front, resembled the form of a Japanese Pagoda, earning the car its famous nickname.