This unique French delivery 250SL ‘Pagoda’ retains superb factory original integrity in the desirable color combination of dark grey metallic over “natural” MB-tex interior. With an appearance and drivability to match the low-mileage reading on the odometer, this preservation W113 coupe/roadster comes with a rare period Phillips record player under the dash adding further charm to an already incredible original Mercedes.
Highlights
- Version for France completed August 11th, 1967
- Chassis no. 113.043-12-003369
- Engine no. 129.982-12-001703
- Original DB 172G dark grey metallic paint
- Original 114 natural MB-Tex upholstery
- Brown Boucle carpeting
- DB 172 G hard top
- Black canvas soft top
- Becker Europa radio
- Period Phillips record player
- Original radio delete plate
- Automatic transmission with floor shift
- Books and tools
- Jack and spare tire
- Shows 38,790 km’s (24,103 miles)
250SL “Pagoda” History
The 250SL was introduced at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show with production from December of 1966 until January 1968. This abbreviated one-year production run of the 250SL makes it by far the rarest of Mercedes’ W113 series cars. The 250SL retained the stiffer suspension and sportier feel of the early SL’s while providing improved power and agility over the 230SL via a new engine and rear disc brakes. The main mechanical change was the use of the 2,496 cc (2.5 L) M129.II engine. Additionally, the resiliency and range of the 250SL was significantly improved over the 230SL while the wider power band of the 250 SL resulted in noticeably improved performance.
This very original, low mileage “Pagoda” convertible/coupe was completed by Mercedes-Benz on August 11th, 1967 and scheduled as a version for the French market. Still wearing its original factory applied paint, the car was furnished new in DB 172 dark grey metallic paint over a 114 natural MB-Tex interior with brown Boucle carpeting. The car came fitted with the desirable European one piece headlight lens’ accompanied by French market specific yellow headlights. The hard top was painted dark grey metallic and the car was optioned as “radio delete” and “soft top delete”, today still retaining its original “250SL” delete plate and since new it has acquired a black soft top. Mechanically, this 250SL was equipped with an automatic transmission with floor shift and was optioned to omit the lettering “automatic” as was otherwise standard on the vertical edge of the trunk lid.
According to the previous French title that accompanies the car today, the date of first registration in France for this alluring and still incredibly original 250SL “Pagoda” was September, 4th 1967. The first owner of record, also believed to have been the original purchases of the car, was Gerard Sallet of Bellerive-sur-Allier, a commune located very near the city of Vichy in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Mr. Sallet owned the car from at least from 1991 until 2011 according the French title, at which point he sold the car to Phillipe Pas of Mazenzele, Belgium, a village 20km from Brussels. According to correspondence with Mr. Pas, Gerard Sallet was the original owner of the car. On February 12, 2014, Mr. Pas sold the car to the current owner, a collector of unique and original Mercedes-Benz located in Phoenix, Arizona.
The factory original features of this special French delivery 250SL, both mechanical and cosmetic, are worthy of much commentary. The exterior of the car retains the factory applied original DB 172 dark grey metallic paint from 1967, and it remains in a very good condition throughout, especially in consideration of a metallic its 53rd year of use. At some point in the past, the car has received a well applied, light clear coat to protect to the original paint and add a pleasing sheen to the paint surface. The chrome and other trim on the exterior of the car also remains in superb original condition with little sign of degradation aside from the minimal patina that pairs it well to the paint. There are several scratches and chips here and there to be sure on the exterior surfaces, but for the most part the paint and trim remains is in remarkable condition with the correct level of patina expected of such a low mileage example. The hard top also remains in original paint condition.
The interior of the car offers further intrigue with respect to the impressive overall original condition of the car. The natural 114 MB-tex upholstery on the seats and dash shows almost no wear with no cracking and no seam degradation or discoloration. The brown Boucle carpet is in near perfect condition, as is the wood on the dash, all providing a very much “like-new” presentation with the mildest of patina present throughout the interior. According to the factory data card, this car did not originally have a soft top, but it seems to be the case that one was added early on in life and is still retained today in black canvas. While this particular 250SL was originally “radio delete”, it has since been fitted with a Becker Europa radio. In addition to the radio, it has also been professionally retrofitted with an ultra-rare period correct Phillips record player under the dash. If the originality of the car doesn’t take the driver back in time, the amazing sound and functionality of the record player surely does the the trick!
The engine bay of this Pagoda is as original and well preserved as the rest of the car, remaining in a condition expected of a car with only 38,790 km’s on the odometer. Immediately of note upon close inspection are several key features of a well cared for original Mercedes Pagoda. The presence of the intact original firewall pad, most often found disintegrated by now on W113 at this stage in its life, is an indicator of low mile use and certainly proper storage throughout life. Further unmistakable proof of the less than 25,000 miles of use is the presence of the original paper tag still present on the rocker arm cover. The painted surfaces in the engine bay still in great original condition with distinguishing “paint runs” on the underside of the hood present as expected “ex-factory” trait. Also of note is the presence of factory original tags and the still usable original fabric strap near the hood prop which like the firewall pad is often times long gone by now. The underside of the car is similar to the engine bay in appearance, well cared for with no signs of rust or accident showing clear indications of consistent servicing attention over time.
This special French delivery 250SL “Pagoda” offers superb factory originality in the highly desirable eye-catching factory original color scheme of dark metallic grey over “natural” MB-tex interior. With an appearance and drivability to match the low-mileage reading on the odometer, this charming 1967 Mercedes-Benz coupe/roadster comes with a rare period record player under the dash, original hard top, books, copy of factory data card, tools, jack and spare.
