1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

113.044.12.020871roadGermany

Engine: 2.8L inline-six
Colour: Signal Red over Cognac leather

A late-production 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda' (W113), completed at Sindelfingen in September 1970 and delivered to the US market in Signal Red over Cognac leather. Equipped from new with automatic transmission, factory air-conditioning, a matching hardtop, and a Becker Europa radio, it represents the final and most refined iteration of the W113 line. The car was comprehensively restored by California-based marque specialist Scott Melnick and has since covered fewer than 3,500 miles.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$170,800
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Scott Melnick (prior owner, Calabasas CA)
partial documentation
Commissioned or undertook a full restoration of the vehicle through marque specialist Scott Melnick of Calabasas; the scope covered engine bay, undercarriage, suspension, interior, and exterior.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Current consignor
partial documentation
Held the car for roughly 16 years, maintaining it regularly via a dedicated private mechanic using OEM-sourced components; odometer showed under 3,500 miles accumulated since the Melnick restoration at time of cataloguing.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—Restoration
Scott Melnick
Complete restoration carried out to a high standard, encompassing the engine bay, undercarriage, suspension, exterior, and interior including the Cognac upholstery and convertible top. Correct factory details were preserved throughout.
Melnick is identified as a Mercedes-Benz marque specialist based in Calabasas, California. Work was undertaken under prior ownership according to the consignor.
—
Service
Routine ongoing maintenance carried out using genuine OEM parts sourced from established suppliers, performed by a dedicated private mechanic.
Conducted throughout the consignor's approximately 16-year ownership period.

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