1968 Mercedes-Benz W113 280SL

Delivered to a Mr Novak in California in January 1968, this 280 SL Pagoda would be kept by him for some 30 years before it was sold in 2012 to LA dealer, Beverly Hills Classic Car Club. It then sold to another Californian dealer, before being imported to Holland. During this period it was restored, with the original Horizon Blue exterior and blue interior trim being replaced with black paintwork and contrasting tan leather upholstery inside.

Like so many Pagoda SLs, its wanderlust wasn’t quite over, it returning to its motherland following its time in Holland, before eventually being imported into the UK in 2015, where it’s remained since. As the recipient of a comprehensive restoration, it’s in superb all-round order, and while the odometer reads a tantalising 03612, the paperwork accompanying it suggests that it’s been around the clock once and thus will be 103,612 miles – not that you’d know that by looking at it, such is its excellent overall condition.

Having spent the majority of its early years in California means prior to its restoration this car would have been a better basis for restoration than European cars. It may have been colour changed during its restoration, but it’s been done to a very high standard – black paint is hugely unforgiving to anything less than perfect bodywork, and this car is absolutely immaculately presented. That black paint contrasts perfectly with the chrome trim, all of which is similarly beautifully finished. The interior benefitted from a full retrim in tan leather upholstery and matching carpets, the dash top and bottom and door cards also being trimmed in tan leather. There’s a wind deflector behind the front seats, and the folding hood – black fabric with a cream headlining – is in similarly excellent condition. Naturally, there’s a hardtop with this car, again this finished in black.

We know in the 30 years of original ownership the car was looked after, but a lot of the paperwork relating to that has gone the way of time. What documentation that exists is more recent and relates to the utmost recent care and attention. Evidently having benefitted from a very well executed restoration, this car doesn’t require a weighty tome of paperwork to demonstrate its excellent condition, inside and out, and what paperwork does exist verifies the mileage, its correct importation and some details about its background.

Some shy away from cars not wearing the same paint code as their original sales invoice, but we’re all for change here, especially when it’s been executed as expertly as it has been with this 280 SL. It looks absolutely sensational in black, and the fit and finish in the interior, as well as the tan colour, is superb.