Description
Offered for sale is an exceptionally clean, honest, original and solid 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL that’s been a rust free and accident free California car its entire life. The car left the factory finished in tasteful and wonderfully era specific Beige Gray (DB 181) with a Tobacco Brown (DB 423) hard top and hubcaps as well as a complimentary dark brown interior and brown German canvas soft top. Having always been garaged and well cared for and never exposed to the elements, the car’s undercarriage is entirely solid, original and free of any harmful corrosion and the body is free of any bondo or evidence of bodywork, retaining original fenders that show both the telltale factory spotwelds in the engine compartment and the notches on the headlight pylons.
The car is also mechanically sound, the time-tested 2.8L engine firing up easily, idling consistently and pulling strongly and smoothly through each of the original transmission’s gears. The car drives and brakes straight and true, the suspension is tight and the ride quality is entirely comfortable, whether cruising down the highway or winding through the canyons. One of the Mercedes W113’s most appreciated aspects is that they are truly mechanically modern enough for everyday use on today’s roads, and while this car certainly lives up to that standard, it has only been a weekend driver for nearly 90 percent of its life.
Apart from meeting all of a typical W113 buyer’s necessary criteria (solid original undercarriage, strong matching numbers mechanicals, accident free original body and fenders, etc.), the car is also aesthetically beautiful, the finish consistent and marred only by minor imperfections, none of which are significant enough to appear in and of the photographs. Having never had any bodywork, the panel fits and gaps are all factory perfect and all of the glass and chrome is in excellent original condition, save for a very soft impression in the passenger side front bumper that’s difficult to see in photographs. The car’s original hubcapped wheels are in excellent condition, wrapped in narrow whitewall tires with plenty of remaining tread.
The car’s interior is entirely original and equally as clean. The seats show only negligible wear, a testament to the high level of quality that Mercedes was committed to in this car’s era of production. The same can be said for the carpets and interior panels, both in very nice original condition. The car retains its Becker radio and comes with a dealer installed Kuhlmeister AC unit which does blow cold. The hardtop headliner is in excellent original condition and the car’s dark brown canvas soft top shows virtually no wear and has a crystal clear rear window.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an incredibly honest, very original, entirely solid and mechanically sound example of an appreciating classic that’s finished in a rare and attractive livery. This 280SL is a beautiful driver that’s sure to provide years of reliable use and upside, checking all of the right boxes for the savvy collector or the weekend enthusiast: original rust-free undercarriage, original accident-free body (including the original spotwelded fenders), strong mechanicals and beautiful original cosmetics. Having watched the Pagoda SL market of late, we anticipate a high level of interest from potential buyers, so serious individuals or agents should contact us directly and perform their due diligence as early in the purchasing process as possible.
