1968 - MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL French registration... - Lot 1 - Collector Cars Auction

1968 - MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL French registration Chassis n°11304412001616 Engine n°13098312000959 - Paul Bracq's Mercedes flagship, in its most powerful 280 version - Beautiful example in its original configuration, sound, elegant and well optioned - Very well maintained on a regular basis, with a large file of invoices to back it up - Hard-top, soft-top, service book, manuals and expert's report The 230 SL, 250 SL and 280 SL are a logical continuation of the Mercedes 190 SL concept. These three versions can be seen as a series with increasingly powerful engines, the 250 SL and 280 SL engines being virtually the same as those fitted to the 250 SE and 280 SE sedans. This series, which was built between 1963 and 1971, was almost unchanged in terms of body style, but constantly improved mechanically. The 230 SL was equipped with disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear, while the 250 SL and 280 SL had 4 discs. All versions had power-assisted brakes. All three models were available with 4- or 5-speed manual gearboxes, or the 4-speed automatic common to US models. These cars were sold as coupes (with only a removable hard top), convertibles (with only a soft top), or coupes/convertibles (with soft top and hard top). This was an elegant car for everyday use. The Mercedes-Benz "Pagoda" on display is a 1968 280 SL imported from Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2015 and registered in France by the current owner. It features a four-speed automatic gearbox, power steering and hard-top, as well as a body-colored soft top. The blue vinyl (Tex) interior is in good condition, as is the dark blue alpaca soft top. A file of invoices dating back to 2007 forms the pedigree of this beautiful car, complemented by a copy of its Datacard. This confirms that the Midnight Blue color scheme with blue interior and matching hard-top plus soft-top is as the car left the factory, and that the engine block is also the original one, although the cylinder head has been replaced. The engine was completely disassembled and overhauled in 2008, with the cylinder head and injection pump rebuilt. An electronic ignition system was installed, as well as a battery cut-off switch. Silentblocs, brakes, ball joints, bearings and shock absorbers have been rebuilt or replaced. The suspension pivots need replacing, however, on this car with 77,300 miles on the clock. A vintage Becker Europa FM car radio (optional) and an electric antenna are fitted on board, as well as an anti-burglar net, making this Pagoda even more enjoyable to drive. This is a very fine example of an easy-to-use convertible with classic, timeless lines.