280 SL (Pagoda)
The 'Pagoda' nickname came from Paul Bracq's concave hardtop roof, which resembled an Asian temple. The most elegant Mercedes sports car of the 1960s. 23,885 built across 230 SL, 250 SL, and 280 SL variants. The car that proved Mercedes could build a sports car as desirable as any Italian.
History
Paul Bracq designed the W113 SL as a replacement for the iconic 300 SL. Rather than trying to replicate the Gullwing's drama, Bracq created a car of understated elegance. The concave hardtop, dipping in the center and rising at the edges, inspired the 'Pagoda' nickname that stuck.
The W113 series progressed through three engine variants: the 230 SL (1963, 2.3L, 150 hp), 250 SL (1966, 2.5L, 150 hp), and 280 SL (1968, 2.8L, 170 hp). All used Mercedes's robust inline-six engines with Bosch mechanical fuel injection.
The Pagoda was not a sports car in the traditional sense. It was a grand tourer that happened to have two seats: comfortable, refined, and fast enough without being dramatic. This positioning was deliberate. Mercedes wanted a car for doctors, lawyers, and executives who wanted elegance, not excitement.
23,885 W113 SLs were built across all variants, with the 280 SL being the most desirable. Clean, matching-numbers 280 SLs now command EUR 80,000 to EUR 150,000, with exceptional examples exceeding EUR 200,000.
Timeline
Production & Heritage
Value estimates are editorial assessments based on recent auction results and market trends.
Technical Specifications
Engine Details
Performance
Tags
Designed by Paul Bracq
From the 1960s
Featured in
Featured in Collections
References & Sources
More in GT
See all
P1800
