If you want a classic 1960s European sports/touring car and want what is thought by most to be the best car in the entire category, then you should buy a Mercedes W113 “Pagoda” roadster. This is because it is the best built, most reliable, and most usable car in that category of cars. Our Pick of the Day will handle any vintage tour, be welcome at a show or regional concours, and provide years of driving enjoyment. This 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Huntington Station, New York.
This 230SL is painted in White with a contrasting Red MB Tex interior. Before you discount the car for not having leather, realize that MB Tex from this era is the most durable material of the era, feels extremely nice, and looks great. It is equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, which mitigates the smaller displacement of the fuel-injected, SOHC 2.3 liter inline-six under the hood.
The dealer describes this car as having been enjoyed as a fair-weather touring car, spending much of its recent life on the North Shore of Long Island where it was used for leisurely weekend drives along scenic coastal roads. It has been serviced by Autosport Designs to ensure it has remained in outstanding mechanical condition.
The exterior looks to be a car that is in excellent condition, speaking to the quality of the older restoration. The paint and brightwork all appear to be in great shape. Both the hardtop and soft top are in fine condition as well. The car is still clad with its factory steel wheels with correct wheel covers.
The interior is possibly even nicer looking than the outside. The Red MB Tex is in stunning condition and completely correct. The same goes for the proper carpets. The instruments and switchgear also look to be in great shape. The dash is in the correct material and appears to need nothing. Note the wood along the bottom of the windshield.
Lift the hood and you find the same: a clean engine with correct hoses, fasteners, and auxiliary components. The only change I would make would be to swap out the aftermarket battery for a correct Mercedes-branded item, something that is still available from your local Mercedes dealer.
This 230 SL was restored awhile ago yet it still continues to present beautifully today. I imagine the driving experience is exactly as one would expect from a properly sorted Pagoda. Mechanically, the car is excellent, with all systems functioning as intended by Mercedes-Benz when new.
This 230SL is accompanied by the factory jack, lug wrench, tool kit, owner’s manual, Mercedes-Benz Data Card, and color-matched removable hardtop. A wonderfully presented example of one of Mercedes-Benz’s most iconic postwar sports cars, this 230 SL is ready for immediate enjoyment.
This 230SL is unique in that it is one of the few classic cars that you could still use as a daily driver with few if any compromises. It is fast enough to keep up with traffic, has a capable chassis, features good brakes, and is quite comfortable behind the wheel regardless if your trip is 50 miles or 500. The trunk was built for traveling, with ample space for a week’s worth of clothing for two, and operation is reliable to the point of not needing to worry about what might break along the way. In addition it is extremely well-supported by the Mercedes factory and is a simple car to service. All of this equates to a car that could easily fill the space as a candidate for the idea of a single car collection.
The asking price of this nice 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL is listed at a market-correct $79,500. Just for comparison, this is about half the price of a new Mercedes SL that is guaranteed to depreciate, while this car won’t suffer in the same regard. Why not take the plunge and buy this one before it disappears to someone else’s garage?
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