This rare 4-speed manual 280 SL from the final model year of production had only one owner until 2016 and comes with a suite of especially scarce original accessories. Presented in the striking original two-tone exterior of dark olive green and white-gray accentuated by an outstanding, all original parchment MB tex interior with dark green German loop carpets. With a lifetime pedigree of superb care in its wake, this pure “Pagoda” is one of the very best W113’s you’re likely to find anywhere.
Highlights
- Chassis no. 113044-10-020273
- Engine no. 130983-10-007309
- Matching numbers
- Final production year W113 model
- 291 H dark olive
- 158 H white-gray hard top and wheels
- One owner until 2016
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Parchment MB-Tex
- Luggage rails
- Original luggage rack
- Eckel Germany ski racks
- Hartmann suitcases
- Becker Europa radio with Hirshmann antenna
- Original owner registration card
- Original Mercedes-Benz service booklet
- Original Oregon title from 1971
- Original books and tools
- Spare wheel, tire and jack
- 78,774 miles
History
This 1971 280 SL left the Mercedes-Benz factory in the two-tone paint scheme of 291 H dark olive with a 158 H white-gray top and wheels. The interior, which remains in superb original condition throughout to this day, was finished in parchment MB-Tex upholstery with dark green German loop carpets. Whereas most 280SL’s were delivered as automatics, this car was specially supplied with a rare 4-speed manual transmission, a desirable option for the Mercedes buyer wanting the ‘sport’ driving experience. In addition to the rarity of the manual transmission, this car was supplied new with chrome luggage rails on the “pagoda” hard top roof and a very rare chromed luggage rack, a benefit to the traveler wishing to have additional storage capacity on extended journeys. Rarer still about this special W113 Mercedes, it comes with an original Eckel Germany ski rack set, a scarcely seen period accessory for mounting up to four sets of snow ski’s.
As noted in the car’s original service booklet, this 280 SL was delivered new to Dorothy D. Gage of Portland, Oregon via Don Rasmussen Company Mercedes/BMW/Volvo on August 4th, 1971. Upon delivery, Dorothy’s new Mercedes was given Oregon license number HEV013. On August 19th, 1971, the original title was issued, copy of which comes with the car. Dorothy Gage would go on to own and enjoy her 280 SL for the next 45 years, showing it extraordinary care and traveling just over 75,000 adventurous miles along the way.
In 2016, this unique one owner 280 SL came to the attention of Mercedes-Benz enthusiast and collector Dr. Phil Lutfy of Phoenix, Arizona. Keenly on the lookout for specially optioned cars with unique qualities for the past 50 years, Dr. Lutfy was particularly drawn to this W113 Mercedes given the confluence of rare and special qualities that it possessed. The combination of the rare 4-speed manual transmission, its superbly kept originality, a striking two tone color scheme, the ultra-rare luggage and ski rack accessories and of course, the unbroken ownership history from new were a convening of enviable features difficult for a veteran “Pagoda” collector to resist.
On February 1st, 2016, Lutfy became the second owner, purchasing the car from Dorothy Gage. After a thorough examination of the car and several months of regular driving, Lutfy, who had owned roughly twenty W113’s over the years, began the process of preserving and raising the level of this already outstanding Pagoda. The goal was to sort the car to the highest road performance standards with superb cosmetic appeal, maintaining the undisturbed originality of the car and melding it into the sort of typically special concours show piece that Dr. Lutfy has become well known for in Mercedes circles over the past 50 years.
Given the still original dark olive paint on the body of the car had been buffed out quite a few times over the years and because of the lack of vibrance remaining in the almost 50 year old paint, the decision was made to perform a bare metal repaint in the original dark olive color. The result of this repaint is seen today in an “as-new” appearance, with just a hint of ‘orange peel’ texture that melds seamlessly with the otherwise superbly preserved original features of the car.The still vibrant original white-grey paint on the hard top remains in excellent condition and compliments well the dark olive green body. Chrome throughout the car remains all original and presents extremely well, in a condition only made possible by a lifetime of care and importantly, a consistent indoor storage routine.
Because the original seats, carpets and wood of the interior were all in such outstanding original condition, nothing of note was necessary in the way of repairs outside of expert cleaning in pursuit of concours quality preservation and a small patch 2×3” patch in the dark green German loop carpet sourced from an original donor section of German loop material in the same color. Even the original, date coded rubber remains in-tact throughout the car, and is still in a soft, supple and un-cracked condition, testament to the care and storage this car has received from new. To round out the freshening of this 280 SL’s interior, a new 2-piece set of brown coco mats was procured and installed. The original soft-top also remains in very nice and usable original condition, requiring only a deep cleaning.
Equal to the originality of the interior and just as well maintained, the engine bay also bares the signs of a lifetime of care and proper servicing with intact original surfaces everywhere you look. These original surfaces include the bay itself and the underside of the hood, plus a notably undisturbed original firewall pad, a sure-fire sign to the discerning W113 Mercedes aficionado of a truly well cared for original car. Preservation processes were performed on the engine bay to maintain the original patina of time and general cleaning was performed for future possible show appearances, otherwise the originality remains untouched. All original stampings and original chassis tags are present in the engine bay along with those in the drivers side door jamb.
In addition to the attention paid to the cosmetics, there has been an array of mechanical refreshments performed by Dr. Lutfy towards “as new” performance capabilities on the road. The floor shifter was found to be loose on early test driving excursions, thus the shift assembly was removed and rebuilt with all new bushings and covers installed for a tighter, more precise feel. Further, the rear axel was removed so that all new brake parts could be swapped in to replace the worn ones with new compensating springs and shocks added. At the time of the brake work, a brand new set of Michelin MXV-P tires were installed. Other efforts towards high level roadworthiness included having all of the coolant hoses replaced, replacing the radiator hoses, installation of a new Bosch battery, a new Mercedes exhaust system, thermostat replacement and resealing, and all the brake fluid being flushed and exchanged.
The rare original accessories that come with this 280 SL add a particularly special nuance to this otherwise excellent 4-speed manual Pagoda that make it an almost unrepeatable W113 package, making it a true period showcase. Most notably, this 280 SL retains a rare, original factory/dealer luggage rack, an option most original purchasers would not even have been aware of, let alone purchased. A perfectly patina’d original two-piece Hartmann suitcase set does well to put the luggage rack to good use on this SL, color matching the parchment seats and white-gray hard top unusually well. Even scarcer than the rare original luggage rack, an original Eckel Germany ski rack set capable of holding up to four sets of snow skis also comes with the car. In concert with the luggage rack, the ski rack’s removable “H” clamps provide multiple configurations for luggage, skis or both at the same time, making for an undeniably special show package and a useful option for someone with pure adventure on their road docket.
Beyond the rare accessories and well earned superlatives used to describe the car itself, this special 280 SL does nothing to relent in the “box checker” department when it comes to the original documentation. It comes with the original service booklet in perfect condition, an item often found to be unused or missing from these cars as they change hands over the years. This original service booklet notes not only the date of original purchase by Dorothy Gage and the stamping of the Mercedes dealership that sold it, but also retains the earliest of servicing history with mileages indicated. Incredibly, the very first coupon/sticker from the car’s “180 – 600 mile” service remains in-tact in the drivers side door jamb, recording the first time it was serviced by the Don Rasmussen Company, the dealer who sold it new!!! Extraordinary care has been taken by both the original owner, Dorothy Gage, as well as Dr. Lutfy in order to retain the originality of the car and upon inspection this is apparent at every turn.
Since 2016, this 1971 two-tone 4 speed manual 280SL has resided in Dr. Lutfy’s Mercedes collection, enjoyed sparingly over four years to the tune of about 3,000 miles. Under Lutfy’s ownership, it has been maintained in a predictably high quality manner as a fitting second act in the life of this extraordinary factory 4-speed manual Pagoda. This final model year W113 Mercedes is “turn-key” ready for as a bonafide preservation or restoration class competitor on the concours field and a satisfyingly active driving experience on the road with ultra-rare travel accessories in tow.
