Restored to exacting, authentic Mercedes-Benz standards in the original color of DB 180 silver by marque expert Daniel Landeros for inclusion in the renowned Dr. L. Philip Lutfy Collection. This beautiful 280SL “Pagoda” is a three owner car with only one owner from new until 2002. As a superbly restored, blue chip example of the W113 Mercedes-Benz, this car is primed for inclusion in the best of collections and stands turn-key ready for concours showing or daily driving.
Highlights
- Chassis no 113044-12-010971
- Engine no 130983-12-006939
- Matching Numbers
- Superbly restored in original DB 180 Silver Metallic
- Only three owners from new
- 1079 red leather interior
- 2.8 Liter M130 inline 6 engine
- Bosch mechanical fuel injection
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- Blaupunkt radio with Hirschmann Antenna
- Kangol seatbelts
- Original books and tools
- Original service book
- Original data cards
- Original California title
280 SL Coupe/Roadster History
As the spiritual successor to the 190SL and 300SL, the Mercedes W113 chassis was first introduced at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show as the 230SL. The W113 placed more of an emphasis on grand touring with a sport flair than race bred looks, but it certainly packed a punch from the get go. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the car was its unique styling, clearly linked to earlier Stuttgart designs, yet still remaining fresh and new. Distinctively different with regards to its predecessors was its roofline; called the “pagoda” roof, which had been designed by famed French Mercedes designer Paul Bracq and the Austro-Hungarian safety engineering savant Bela Barenyi. The upright roofline contained large amounts of glass, with raised sides, and reinforced pillars for safety in the event of a roll along with a lower center panel, à la a Japanese pagoda.
The final version of the W113 was the 280SL, the model featured here, and was built by Mercedes-Benz from December of 1967 until February of 1971, making its first public appearance early in 1968. The most notable feature separating the 280’s from the 250’s and 230’s that had preceded it was sheer horsepower. The 280SL was upgraded to the (2.8 Liter) M130 engine with 170 horsepower and 180 lb⋅ft of maximum torque, which finally gave the W113 serious power on the road. It is the ultimate expression of W113 Mercedes line of cars.
Delivered in 1969 to the United States and sold new by Downtown L.A. Motors Figueroa & Washington, this 280SL was originally painted DB 180 silver with matching silver hardtop and a 131 black interior. For the first 33 years of its life, this 280SL was owned by Anthony and Eileen Lazane of Ventura, California. Still accompanied by the often missing original Mercedes-Benz service booklet, this “Pagoda” contains servicing notes suggesting it was well maintained under the Lazane ownership. On January 17th, 2002, the Lazane’s would sell the car to noted Mercedes-Benz collector Dr. Phil Lutfy of Phoenix, Arizona, who saw the car as the perfect California restoration candidate ultimately for inclusion in his stable of classics. In 2005, a full restoration was commenced under the guidance of Lutfy in concert with long time expert 280SL restorer Daniel Landeros of Santa Paula, California. Everything was fully restored back to original spec with the one exception of the installation of a red leather interior in place of the original black.
In 2007, due to collection overflow and interests residing elsewhere, Dr. Lutfy sold the car to New Jersey based collector and dealer Bruce Iannelli. With almost immediate regret in selling his spectacularly restored silver Mercedes, which he had invested heavily in on the restoration front, Lutfy tracked the car over time and was finally able to acquire it back in November of 2013. Since 2013, the car has resided in the Lutfy’s collection, a home known throughout the United States Mercedes-Benz community for stewarding only the very best in award winning cars.
Today, the car is in superb, show quality condition. The admirable restoration work appears fresh and has benefitted from the consistent attention to detail and freshening regimens that accompanies all cars that pass through the collection of Dr. Lutfy. During the restoration by Landeros, no stone was left unturned, with all components, mechanical and cosmetic, attended to with no corners cut or expenses spared. The DB 180 silver paint remains is in spectacular, show quality condition and is accented nicely by the well finished chrome trim present on the body and hard top. The interior is likewise in a superb condition having been upholstered in 1079 red leather with all original interior components reinstalled after refurbishment. The Blaupunkt radio, the dash, carpets, wood, chrome trim and headliner have all been fully redone with one having to strain during examination to find wear anywhere while inside the cabin.
In addition to the paint work and interior, the trunk, engine bay and underside, often afterthoughts in W113 restorations, have all been fully and authentically restored during the process undertaken by Lutfy and Landeros, restorers known as several of the most knowledgeable 280SL experts in the United States. The engine was completely taken apart, rebuilt, refinished and reassembled with an emphasis on authenticity. The result of which is an “as-new” appearance today. Mechanically, the four-speed automatic transmission, married to the inline 6 cylinder M180 engine, performs as one would expect from a car restored by this team, with reliable cold starting and true to original model performance with handling to match on the road. The car has been sorted for daily driving with consistent maintenance in the years since completion of the restoration.
Given the inherent drivability and “modern car” nature of the W113 Mercedes model, it is not particularly shocking that very few 280SL’s have been the benefactor of such a well cared for life as has been enjoyed by this “Pagoda”. A car that has always been a rust and accident free example that is later restored to the extent this one has been is, put simply, a Mercedes-Benz connoisseurs dream. Restored to exacting, authentic standards in the original color of Mercedes DB 180 silver by Mercedes-Benz expert Daniel Landeros for the Dr. L. Philip Lutfy Collection, this W113 is a blue chip example of the model if there ever was one. It has had only three owners from new, with only one owner until 2002. The car retains its original service manual with early mileage documentation, all original books, original tools, jack, spare tire, original factory data cards, exhaustive service and restoration records under the Lutfy ownership and even retains the original California title last issued in 1976 along with original California blackplate. This classic Mercedes would make a great addition to any collection and is a well sorted example capable of being driven many miles to any concours show field to compete with other exceptionally restored Mercedes-Benz.
