Pagoda In The Garage! 1967 Mercedes 250 SL
I have never heard of the term “Pagoda” used to describe a Mercedes SL model but then there are a lot of things that I have never heard of. Regardless, here’s a beautiful 1967 Mercedes SL 250 Pagoda. It has been garaged for some time but it still shows very well -let’s take a closer look. This Mercedes is located in State College, Pennsylvania and is available, here on craigslist for $97,000, OBO. Thanks to T.J. for this tip!
According to a post on My Sweet Indulgence, the Pagoda terminology is, “Named after the shape of its roof. Because the Coupé roof, designed by Paul Bracq, is reminiscent of the curved roofs of Far Eastern temples it didn’t take long for the new SL to receive the nickname ‘Pagoda’.” OK got it. Another factoid is that the SL 250 is a fairly rare Pagoda as it was only offered in ’67 and ’68 with a total production of a bit over 5K copies.
Many will consider an engine to be an automobile’s most important component – easy enough to understand why. Unfortunately, our $97K Benz, which does have an engine, does not have a representative image included in the listing. Research indicates that it should be a 170 HP, 2.5 liter in-line six-cylinder motor. It is claimed that this Pagoda “rides like a dream” so we’ll have to assume that it drives but there is no specific mention made on that front. A four-speed automatic transmission makes the connection to the rear wheels.
A typical garage find, the exterior of this Benz is dusty but underneath the light coating of grit is a sharp-looking silver finish capped off with a black pagoda. I love the roofline and greenhouse of the SL 250 though I have to admit I’m not seeing a pagoda architecture. Nevertheless, the thin roof pillars exemplify light, breezy designs that were popular in the ’60s and forwardly project an image of refined performance. Normally, I wouldn’t equate white stripe tires with a Mercedes but in this case, they really work well. SLs of this era possess a unique, balanced silhouette, you know one when you see it.
Claimed to have only experienced 77K miles of operation, the interior’s upholstery looks barely used – of course, some of that is due to Mercedes materials quality. The images aren’t very comprehensive but if you peruse all of the listing images you can piece together a pretty good idea of what’s here. The instrument panel is typically Teutonic with its no-nonsense, easy-to-read gauges that are fronted by an oversized steering wheel. All appears to be in fine nick.
Well, the next time I spot a Mercedes SL of this era, though it probably won’t be a 250, I’ll know to salute it as a “Pagoda”. The listing for this almost $100K two-seater seems way too inadequate and I’ll be surprised if it’s enough to get the job done. This is a truly fine automobile and it deserves better representation, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
Beautiful cars and I agree if the seller wants to get top dollar for his SL he’s gonna need to spend some money on a thorough detail and a professional photographer. With his asking price I think a reality check is needed.
Or, his wife just wants him to sell it.
or his wife’s lawyer.
Ditto…spend some time cleaning it! Evén comprehensive amateur photos at the local park would make for a good listing.
Imho…one of the better designs from Karl and Gottleib.
Not the right price for this presentation.
probably owned by an overpaid PSU professor. I went to PSU in the 70s. Plenty of money in State College. Plenty of cool cars. I remember seeing this car downtown one day walking to class. The local MB dealer is owned by the Leitzinger family.
Not any more. Ciocca Mercedes of State College.
The first use of the term “pagoda” was in a Road&Track article when the 230SL came out. They featured a rear view of the car with the hardtop in place and the caption underneath read, “A pretty good view, other than the pagoda.” This is how it all started. Honest. You can look it up.
Quite correct. The roof designed was nicknamed after the upward outer styling of the roof as seen in this picture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagoda
Ad says odometer rolled over — 177000 mles
He also specifically states “only 77,000 miles”.
JO
Series was 230-250-280SL. The 250 six cyl engines were in other models (coupe and cabriolet), and were not Mercedes best engine. Hence, quickly evolved to the improved 280. Car maintenance/service records esp engine required, at this price!
Hello Stevee, Actually the lesser engine was the 4 main bearing 230 engine. The 250 and 280 had 7 main bearings and were basically the same engine just slightly larger. The SL’s had slightly more horsepower than the sedans in all three configurations. Owned a 250SL for a number of years along with a 1967 250SE Sedan.
The 250 engine was extremely problematic, unreliable as anything ever put into a motror vehicle. THAT was the reason for the quick replacement with the 280, which was almost bullet proof. Frankly, knowing MB cars, I wouldn´t touch this with a ten foot pole, too many miles, too little love, maybe even abuse. The listing is piss poor and the photos are as well..This guy is dreaming and not of a White Christmas.
Detail? Heck, he didn’t even dust it. This is one of my favorite road cars, of all time.
At that price, the engine should be “fresh” and knock that dent out of the left rear quarter panel.
Nearly 50,000 examples of this W113 type were built between 1963 and 1971 and probably most were sold in the USA, so it is not particularly rare, especially on the Coasts. When I lived in San Diego in the early 80s, this was the default car for a successful doctor/lawyer/dentist´s wife and the Pagoda has never been undesirable or unfashionable.
These cars were called Pagodas more or less from day one as @ccrvtt details above. The W113 is one of the very few Mercedes I would like to own and has long been pretty much a staple commodity item in the collector car world. The US versions usually fetch less than their European equivalents, manuals bring a premium and good running W113SLs sell for around $50000 on BaT most every week of the year. Restoration is expensive!
So it´s easy to see that anyone paying $97000 for this very average barnfind car is paying at least twice too much and the article above could/should be clearer in that respect.
Excellent analysis, some people don’t know how to sell their car and should get help. Beautiful car that I admire and love. But only a grandmother would drive some thing that slow, not a sports car at all in my opinion.
Indeed Gary, not a sports car but not just for the boulevard either. I drove an early 230 SL manual over demanding mountain roads in extremely bad storm weather last year and it was very noble, didn´t ship any water or put a foot wrong, the wipers coped fine. In general the car exceeded my expectations.
The Pagoda had a successful early career as a long-distance rally car. A friend in the UK uses one for that purpose today and loves it. Compared to the Big Healey which it replaced, the Pagoda is stronger, more comfortable and much easier to maintain. I guess we all get softer with age!
This grandfather would drive it, also! LOL
$97,000? Wonder how they came up with that price there are two others I found listed on cars.com with fewer miles and under $75,000
I had a ’67 230 SL back in the Eighties. A slushbox unfortunately.
I loved that car. When I wanted to use the car as a convertible, I was young enough that I would just stand on the seats , put my back into the top and lift it off and step down with the “Pagoda” top on my back! I eventually rigged up a sling hanging from the garage rafters. lol
Had a great growling exhaust sound but it took a while to get up to speed. If I was looking to buy one at a price that made some sort of economic sense, I would look for a 250SL with a3 speed.
Mine was a Euro model with the full headlights and I had put an OEM leather interior into it. It was stunning. One day I got T-boned by one of the numerous idiots with a drivers license. Turned out the headlight buckets were rusted out and much of the front fender and the insurance company salvaged it. I didnt know enough then to keep the car and take a lesser payout. Oh well……..
as one who has had 2 of these cars, and first drove one on along distance drive at age 17 in 1971, I can tell you a thing or more about the old SLs. first, parts are difficult at best to secure and prices are as precious as the parts. and this car is going to need work. second, the price is so inflated given the sheer number made. they are not rare, they are not hard to find, they are not a classic in the sense of scarcity (one of the measures of a classic). to keep them on the road is extremely costly and irritating. finally, this car is a $35,000 car (in this market) all day long. if that layer of “FINE DUST” adds to the value in the opinion of the writer, I am further befuddled. anyone who buys one of these money pits be ready to spend to the moon. I know all to well. I will never own one again.
I´d agree with that, Matthew, your valuation of this car in particular. I wouldn´t be worried about parts supply on a Pagoda per se, the cars are now well provided for…..but at a price. So I would definitely worry about paying for those parts and the labour costs of restoration.
As you say, there is a lot of choice when buying a Pagoda so it makes sense to buy a good one rather than a rolling restoration or rebuild project.
My mom had two different MB 280’s in the early 70’s, and both where our mechanics best friends.
Only thing good I can remember is she hit a tree with the second one at a high rate of speed and sustained minor injuries.
They are built like a tank
Beautiful cars, too bad the hopeful seller doesn’t realize what injustice he does to this one by his lack of presentation.
Pagoda my posterior. The only thing “pagoda” will be the porcelain one that swallows a good chunk of 97k. This is a classic SL, but run of the mill, that needs restoring.
Not only is the listing substandard, the odometer reads 71K!
At the risk of overstating the obvious, photos of the questionable engine are conspicuous by their absence. That fact, by itself, has me hearing alarm klaxons.
Has anyone noticed that the gear shifter is in the “Low” position? On a parked vehicle?
Suggests to this cynic that either the transmission was disconnected (for some mysterious reason), or, the engine bay is empty.
For that price?!? Someone has a peculiar sense of humour!!
William the selector is in park(P)
“Park” is the last notch (position), really? Since when?
Zoom in on the photo and you will see, that’s where they (Mercedes) put it on these.
COUGH. (Must remember to breathe) How much?