1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ (more photos 👇)
Paul Bracq’s design featured a distinctive patented hardtop with a slightly concave centerline that sat lower than its edges, creating the profile that inspired the “Pagoda” nickname.
This removable roof design (developed under the direction of safety engineer Béla Barényi) maintained exceptional structural rigidity and was engineered to support roughly a 2,000-pound load.
The final iteration of the W113 series arrived in December 1967 as the most refined version of Stuttgart’s luxury roadster, remaining in production through February 1971.
Clean lines incorporated aluminum body panels for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, and hardtop to reduce weight. Independent suspension at all four corners and vacuum-assisted front disc brakes contributed to composed grand touring manners rather than outright sporting performance.
The 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) M130 inline-six featured Bosch mechanical fuel injection and a seven-bearing crankshaft, producing 170 horsepower at 5,750 rpm. This represented a significant upgrade over the earlier 230 SL and 250 SL variants, finally providing adequate power for the refined chassis.
Transmission choices included a four-speed manual or automatic, with an optional ZF five-speed manual gearbox ordered just 882 times.
Production totaled 23,885 units, making this the most popular of the three W113 variants built between 1963 and 1971.
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