1970 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL PAGODA

KEY FACTS

• A stunning example of the flagship 280 SL model, fully restored by leading classic Mercedes specialist Kevin O’Keeffe.
• Under the bonnet is the 2.8-litre ‘M130’ straight-six engine, which produces up to 168bhp and drives the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission.
• An original UK-market car, first registered in March 1970, it has been in single family ownership for nearly 20 years.
• Prior to the vendor’s ownership, this 280SL had just three owners. While the log book indicates five previous, in the substantial file there are letters on file from all three former owners to him, with the original owner confirming that in their 25-year ownership the car was registered in his, his wife’s and their company’s name. The car therefore has complete known ownership history from new, perfectly documented in the file.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• Finishing in the elegant combination of Blue Metallic over MB-Tex Blue vinyl upholstery, this 280 SL has both hard and soft tops, power-assisted steering, and the desirable automatic transmission.
• Its ownership history from new is known and fully documented, while the car also comes with a noteworthy - and no longer produced - Mercedes-Benz Classic ‘Black Book’ build record that confirms the car’s original features.
• A substantial lever arch file and archive box presents a raft of paperwork and historical records pertaining to the car, going right back to MOT certificates from the early 1990s during the first ownership. Thereafter, every invoice and receipt from the second owner onwards has been documented, right through to the comprehensive O’Keeffe restoration carried out 2015-2017 and subsequent service work.
• There are letters from all three prior owners in the history file, including a letter confirming that the first three registered keepers were in fact all the same ownership.

CONDITION

• Having been treated to total restoration completed four years ago by leading Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ specialist Kevin O’Keeffe, this 280 SL remains in pristine condition throughout.
• The car was refurbished using only original OEM Mercedes-Benz parts throughout, including a replacement windscreen with the correct period Mercedes-Benz etching on the glass.
• Its bodywork and paint restoration was subcontracted to renowned specialist FH Ellis Coachworks in Hampshire, who refinished the car with outstanding attention to detail, with flush shut lines and tight panel gaps throughout.
• In Blue Metallic, this ‘Pagoda’ is offered in a relatively rare factory hue, and the finish is of course excellent all around the body.
• The interior is trimmed in the robust MB-Tex vinyl, which still looks fresh and should stay looking smart for many more miles.
• There are no electrical or mechanical faults.
• The last MOT test was on 14 March 2017 at an indicated 38,283 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with no advisories. The car is exempt from mandatory testing on the basis of age.

SERVICE HISTORY

• Last seen by O'Keeffe Restorations in May 2018, this consisted of minor post-restoration works to ensure the car was still in superb order.
• The restoration was carried out between 2015 and 2017, with the vendor commissioning Kevin O’Keeffe with the instructions to only use genuine Mercedes-Benz parts for the rebuild, and adopting a no-expense-spared approach to the components and quality of finish.
• Prior to this, the car’s history file documents numerous services and maintenance dating back to the mid-1990s.

SUMMARY

This Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ is a truly exceptional classic roadster, with the most desirable factory specification, and refinished in its original colours. Fully restored to exacting standards by one of the UK’s leading SL specialists; this ‘Pagoda’ surely ticks all the boxes for a collector or enthusiast who has been seeking one of these sophisticated open-top cruisers.

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All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.