1963 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

W113 Pagoda Convertible

6 - Cyl.

Manual

11304210000076

Gasoline

1963 Mercedes 230SL - Chassis #76 Here up for bids on eBay is this very early 230SL, chassis number 76.  This car has been in enclosed storage for the better part of the last 20 years, and has recently had much mechanical freshening to put it back on the road.  The car was originally blue with a cognac interior.  A repaint in red  was done years ago, but of cheap quality showing poor prep and application, and now showing age related flaws.  The car really should be put back to its original color, this is part of the reason I'm advertising it as a project.  More importantly, there are some rust issues  to deal with where the rear floors meet the wheelwells (photos below), as well as some fit and finish issues throughout the car.  The car is fully drivable but in light of its rare color combination and early serial number, it deserves to be restored.   Click to enlarge any of the photos below, a link to a slideshow of all the enlarged images is available at the bottom of the page. The car is fairly straight, with a few small dings and only one that I'd actually call a dent, on the passenger side door.  All of the car's trim is present and accounted for.  Tires are nearly new Toyos with full tread. The tail-lights lenses are in good shape with no cracks, their chromed surrounds do show some tarnishing however.  Most of the chrome on the car shows some age, whether by tarnishing, light pitting or scuffs and scrapes.  The bumpers are actually pretty nice, they are original to the car and are very straight with no damage.  The grill, star, and barrel are straight and undamaged as well. The headlights are in excellent condtion with no cracks in the glass or rusting of the internal reflectors.  The hood is stamped with the car's production number of 64.  This stamp is also found on the soft top cover lid, hardtop, and transmission support. Sigla branded windshield is in good shape as well as the side windows.  The hardtop has the optional chromed rails, it has good glass and an intact headliner but does show some aging. The soft top has shrunken up to the point of not latching down in the rear.  You'll notice the chromed trim strip on top, a detail exclusive to the early cars.  The top's storage compartment is missing the side springs that attach to the soft top frame.  This car was optioned with the Kinder Seat, as shown below. This is a leather optioned car in Cognac.  The condition of the seats isn't the best I've seen but not the worst either.  The added headrests are incorrect. The carpet has been replaced and is ready to be replaced again.  The dash wood is intact but dry.  Notice the grab handle on the driver's side door, this detail was removed later in production.  The side air vents on the dash were painted body color on the early cars, chromed later on. Speedometer in KM.  Both the speedo and tach work, all of the other gauges work, and believe it or not all heater and ventilation sliders move freely.  As you can see it's missing the radio surround, unfortunately I don't have this piece.  The fan switch works but the clock doesn't.  Turn signals and horn need looking into as well.  The doors have all of the early style hardware in place.  Window winders are from a later model. The trunk floor is original but the rear valance has been replaced.  The car carries its original Continental spare, the wheel color shows why it was a crime to repaint this car in red. Here's a shot of the VIN stamp on the subframe support - 000076!  In the 2nd photo you'll see that the material surrounding the plate on the firewall is of a different texture than what came later in production.  The early cars also had a different configuration near the hood latch keep; instead of a data plate here, there's a stamping of the car's production number.  The 4th photo is of the engine stamp, this is a factory replacement motor with a 127.981 prefix, which was exclusive to the 230SL.  Perhaps at the time car #76 was made there were still some teething problems with this new motor design, leading to warranty replacements?  Just speculation on my part but from the motor number it was obviously replaced early on in its life. The car fires to life easily, doesn't smoke, and isn't a leaker.  It brakes well and the transmission shifts well, although the shift linkage itself needs new bushings, it's very loose.  The car shows great oil pressure and normal operating temperatures.  Exhaust is a little on the loud side.  The way the car runs and drives instills a feeling of confidence, that it won't let you down.  If you've driven a lot of vintage cars you'll know what I mean.  I'd still recommend going through it before starting any long distance trips, but my feeling is that the drivetrain in this car has good bones. Here's a view of the 2 bad spots underneath. Front wheelwells show some light corrosion where they meet the floorboards.  The car's floorboards and rockers are original but both front fenders were replaced at one point. The car has had extensive brake and clutch work, including a new brake master cylinder, rear wheel cylinders, new hoses and new caliper assemblies up front.  The clutch master cylinder is new, as well as the slave cylinder and hose.  Also shown below is a new fuel pump, not an inexpensive item for the W113. Like any project car, this one has its plusses and minuses.  Mechanically, a lot of the heavy lifting has already been done, this is a project that you can actually drive right now.  On the minus side, those rust spots underneath aren't going to fix themselves.  In the big picture though, owning one of the first 100 Pagodas made, with a rare color combination, is definitely going to be a big plus. Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images. About the Reserve Price: This car is being sold with no reserve, the high bidder wins, it's as simple as that.  This auction ends Wednesday, 3-7-12 at at 12 Noon Pacific Time, 2 PM Central, 3 PM Eastern, 8 PM GMT. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.  I would like a $500 deposit (paypal, money order or bank check) within 2 days.  Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.  Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.  Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.  Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, Oregon under applicable state laws.  By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback, I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.  I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week. The title is currently being processed by the DMV, this can take up to 4 weeks.  The car will come with a clear title. You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5. Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com.  I also welcome you to visit my blog, where I write about the back stories of some of the cars that I've sold. Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, although I can certainly help with logistics.  I have a wholesale account with a transport booking service and can help you find a reasonable shipping rate. Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo Horizon Auto Services California Shipping Thanks for looking!