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1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda Roadster Convertible 4-Speed Manual

Here is a 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda Roadster 4-Speed Manual which has been in the hands of the current owner and part of a large private collection of esteemed automobiles since 2017, all stored in a dedicated private facility with temperature and humidity controlled monitored. This Pagoda Mercedes is a white-on-white example and has been treated to extensive maintenance by the seller during his custodianship despite the relatively low approximately 2,000 km he has driven it evenly during its time with him, a few hundred km per year. Powered a by 2.3 litre inline six-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, it comes with a hardtop, black soft top, power steering, 14-inch painted steel wheels with Mercedes-Benz covers and an aftermarket three- spoke steering wheel in wood, with a three-pointed star emblem, among other features.

The W113 was introduced in 1963 to great acclaim at the Geneva Motor Show and produced through 1971, succeeded by the R107. The Pagoda name is a reference to the slightly concave hardtop created by the lead designers. The aim of Mercedes-Benz in creating the W113 was to “create a very safe and fast sports car with high performance, which despite its sports characteristics, provides a very high degree of travelling comfort” – all characteristics exceptional for its time while its beauty remains exceptional today. This car is an early 1965 as evidenced by its vertically stored spare tire, which moved to horizontal stowage in the trunk in September 1964. Paint imperfections exist on the car, some touched up, and most if not all presented in our gallery. An upfront seller, he mentions that some filler is in place and that three of the four fenders/quarter panels have been replaced. Even so, this car is ready to be enjoyed as it is presented.

The 14-inch steel wheels are painted in body colour and are capped with original style Mercedes-Benz wheel covers with centres also painted in body colour. The tires were installed soon after the owner’s purchase in 2017. They are by Motomaster and measure 195/75 at all four corners, having rolled approximately 2,000 km to date. Brakes are power-assisted – discs up front and drums in the rear. During current ownership, the pads, rotors and calipers were updated. Tie rod ends and ball joints have also been changed by the seller.

In the greenhouse, there is upholstery in a matching white vinyl. Door cards show matching material and house arm rests doubling as pulls, latches, crank window levers and lock controls. Carpet is a shade of red that shows minor signs of sun-bleaching while the driver’s seat has one tear on the outboard side of the chair. The wooden steering wheel is an update, the original, white-rimmed piece is included and is pictured in our gallery. (Please see other spares also shown there, including HVAC components and engine compartment liners.) Shifter is floor-mounted, capped with a wooden shift knob with M-B emblem and controlling selection of the four forward gears. There is a Sony head unit, installed but not connected, with the original exterior antenna still in place.

Instrumentation by VDO beyond the driver’s view of the wooden wheel shows a prominent 7000 RPM tachometer with 6500 RPM red line and equally-sized speedometer topping out at 140 MPH. Gauges between the two are for fuel, oil pressure and coolant temperature. The dash is a combination of the white and red, and not showing any cracks. The analog clock by VDO is not functional while the owner relays its mileage as under 108,000 miles, with under 8,000 miles appearing on the five-digit odometer.

The original powerplant remains in the car, a 2.3 litre inline-six M127. Bosch mechanical fuel injection remains in place and the four-speed manual gets the power to the rear wheels. Seller advises that the most recent oil change was in 2022. Other work in his custodianship beyond the tires, brakes, ball joints and tie rod ends previously mentioned includes an updated fuel pump and fuel lines. As well as engine compartment shots, there are extensive looks at the underside of the car on this listing – both stills in the gallery and a video while the car was on one of the lifts inside the owner’s private facility.  There is a good number of further inclusions with the car, perhaps most notably the original fuel pump, please see our gallery photos.

This 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda Roadster 4-Speed Manual is available with hardtop and its stand, photographed parts, one key as well as service manual from the owner’s private collection in Burlington, Ontario.

More videos and Photo Gallery appear below. 

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