Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1963, the Mercedes-Benz 230SL, internally coded W113, marked a new chapter in the Stuttgart marque’s sporting lineage.

Replacing the 190SL, the 230SL introduced a level of sophistication and design purity that would come to define the SL name for decades.

Styled under the direction of Paul Bracq, its more angular lines were both elegant and purposeful, crowned by the distinctive concave hardtop roof that inspired the ‘Pagoda’ nickname.

Beneath the bodywork lay Mercedes-Benz’s new 2.3-litre straight-six engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, all-round independent suspension, and front disc brakes, creating a car that balanced performance, refinement, and reliability in a way few could match at the time.
The 1966 230SL offered here represents one of the most desirable configurations of the model, fitted with the rare and engaging four-speed manual gearbox and supplied complete with its factory hardtop.

It has been the subject of an old...