Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda

This W113 Pagoda was built in November 1966 as a right-hand-drive automatic 230SL and sent new to Rwanda. After five years in Africa it came to the UK and was first registered in March 1971. The early logbook carries no special notes, which suggests an owner with diplomatic status. It now carries the 2.8-litre engine from the 280SL, a worthwhile gain in performance over the original 2.3.

A private owner restored it over about 15 years. The work included a bare-metal respray in its original Dunkelblau and a top-end rebuild of the 2.8-litre unit. Two large history files record the spending.

The car had not seen road use for some years when it went to Malton Coachworks in 2026. A £23,000 programme of work followed: brake overhaul, electrical checks, throttle linkage and engine timing set-up, a new injection pump thermostat and gear selector adjustment. Smaller parts were replaced too, among them bonnet torsion supports, A-pillar seals, a door catch and a sun visor set. It has since been serviced and machine polished. No mileage is stated.