1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

This 280 SL Pagoda is presented in green over chestnut leather, a classic colour pairing for the W113, and has been fully restored. The 280 SL was the final and most developed expression of the Pagoda line, with the 2.8-litre fuel-injected straight-six giving it a useful step up in performance and refinement over the earlier 230 SL and 250 SL. This one is specified with the optional automatic gearbox, which suits the car's grand-touring character.

The car is UK registered and shows 14,000 miles. The interior has had a full retrim by Hemmels, a respected name in Mercedes-Benz restoration and trim work. Details include body-coloured wheel centres, Michelin radial white-wall tyres and a Becker Le Mans stereo, a period-correct fitment that was a desirable accessory in its day.

Pagodas have become one of the most collectable Mercedes-Benz models of the 1960s and 70s. A restored, UK-registered car with an automatic gearbox and a high-quality retrim is easy to live with, and it appeals to anyone who wants to use a classic regularly rather than just keep it.