1971 Mercedes-Benz W113 SL

This 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL was purchased by the current owner out of Florida in 2020 and subsequently refurbished, reportedly by Metric Tech and Autobahn Autobody in Costa Mesa, California. Work included a repaint in blue, a refreshed beige leather interior, and a rebuild of the 2.8-liter inline-six. Equipment includes a blue convertible top, a removable hardtop, a four-speed automatic transmission, chrome bumpers and trim, 14″ steel wheels with painted hubcaps, power steering, a Becker Europa AM/FM radio, and Frigiking air conditioning. This W113 SL is now offered at no reserve by the seller on behalf of the current owner with a clean California title in the owner’s name. The W113 SL was designed by Friedrich Geiger, Béla Barényi, and Paul Bracq and was introduced to the public at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show. This example left the factory finished in maroon and received a replacement left-front fender and floors during the refurbishment. Other bodywork and rust repairs were also performed prior to a repaint in Le Mans Blue with red and white pinstripes. Additional equipment includes a replacement blue canvas convertible top and removable Pagoda hardtop, chrome bumpers and trim, a retractable antenna, dual side mirrors, and twin exhaust outlets. Steel 14″ wheels wear chrome covers with body-color inserts and are mounted with Uniroyal Tiger Paw whitewall tires. The car is equipped with power steering, and braking is provided by power-assisted discs at each corner. The cabin was refreshed during the project and houses bucket seats upholstered in Cognac leather that extends to the door panels and dashboard. Interior appointments include beige carpeting, a floor-mounted gear shifter, three-point seat belts, Frigiking air conditioning, and a Becker Europa AM/FM radio. The replacement two-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames VDO instruments including a 140-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 6,500-rpm redline as well as gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer was reset during the refurbishment and now shows 117 miles. True mileage is unknown. The 2.8-liter M130 inline-six was factory equipped with Bosch fuel injection and was removed and rebuilt under current ownership. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a rebuilt four-speed automatic transmission that was reportedly rebuilt within the last year. The rear axle and suspension components were refinished in black at that time. Photos of the car taken prior to and during the refurbishment are included in the gallery. Filed under: pagoda, sl, w113