Introduced at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, the W113, marketed as the 230 SL, certainly had a lot to live up to. It was slated to be the replacement for both the iconic 300 SL and the smaller 190 SL. The W113 wasn’t so much a replacement, though, as it was a significant change in direction for the SL line that brought about more emphasis on luxury while retaining an essential sportiness, something engineer Fritz Nallinger called “motoring happiness”. The new car never set the world on fire in terms of performance, but the W113 was no slouch in the design department. On the hardtop, designer Paul Bracq made the center of the roof concave while raising the sides, a clever touch that effectively improved visibility and gave the car a distinct look, earning it the nickname “Pagoda”. Power was by an advanced and robust straight-six fitted with fuel injection, and the W113 was a very early adopter of safety considerations in the design stages. The motors were silky smooth with good power delivery, and the total package handled surprisingly well. Then there were the looks. There’s no denying they are still gorgeous cars, especially with the Pagoda roof fitted. There is nothing too extravaga
left-hand-drive 1966 mercedes benz 230 sl convertible grey 4-speed hardtop leather restored warranty german petrol
2310 Chaffee Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63146, Missouri
United States
Mar 28, 2018
Feb 22, 2018