1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

Offered in silver metallic with a Bordeaux leather interior, this 280 SL is a W113 'Pagoda', the car that carried Mercedes-Benz's open two-seat line through the late 1960s and into 1971. The 280 SL was the most potent of the three Pagoda variants, using the fuel-injected 2.8-litre straight-six paired here with an automatic gearbox, which suits the car's relaxed grand-touring character better than any pretence of sportiness. The distinctive concave-roof hardtop gives the car its nickname and its rigid, elegant profile.

This example has been the subject of a substantial cosmetic and trim programme by Hemmels, the specialist known for its high-end classic Mercedes work. The interior has been fully retrimmed in Bordeaux leather, with new carpets and refinished veneer, while a new soft-top has also been fitted. The audio system has been upgraded, a sensible modernisation for a car intended to be used. A removable hard-top is included, so the car can be run as an open roadster or a closed coupe.

Mileage stands at 93,000, which is credible for a car of this age and not unusual for a W113 that has been driven rather than stored. The asking price reflects the quality of the retrim and the strong values the Pagoda commands in the classic market, where well-presented automatic cars with documented specialist work remain consistently sought after.