1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL ‘Pagoda’
Designer Paul Braq created this influential luxury roadster that would establish the template for all future Mercedes-Benz SL models when it debuted in 1963. The distinctive concave hardtop earned it the “Pagoda” nickname and became an instantly recognizable design element.
Built on a shortened W111 sedan platform, the W113 replaced both the exotic 300 SL and the underpowered 190 SL. Mercedes implemented innovative technology including fuel injection, disc brakes, and specially designed semi-radial tires.
The 230 SL nearly matched the lap times of a Ferrari 250 GT with a V12 engine on twisty circuits, demonstrating serious performance capabilities beyond its refined appearance. The fuel-injected 2.3-liter inline-six produced 148 horsepower, enabling 0-60 mph acceleration in 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph.
Production totaled 19,831 examples between 1963 and 1967, with less than a quarter sold in America. Notable owners included John Lennon, who owned a dark blue 1965 model.
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