"Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1963, the 230 SL was a very different car to its predecessors. Intended as the replacement for the 190 SL, the 230 SL abandoned the four-cylinder engine in favour of a 2.3 litre fuel-injected, six-cylinder engine, producing 150bhp. The new engine was derived from that of the great 220 SE. The Paul Bracq penned body was an all new, stylish design which became an instant classic. Beneath the skin, the running gear was conventional Mercedes-Benz, featuring independent suspension, disc brakes on the front and rear drums. Top speed was in excess of 120mph. Soon after the 230 SL was announced, Eugen Bohringer drove one to victory in the Spa-Sofia-Liège Rally and, although competition outings are rare, this was the sort of debut one would expect from the Stuttgart factory.
This very good 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Roadster was purchased by the current owner, as a birthday present to himself, in 2005 when it had covered 91,219 miles. The car then received a cosmetic restoration by Mercedes-Benz specialists, Silchester Garage based in Silchester, Berkshire. Since the restoration, this 230 SL has covered a mere 3,200 miles and has never been out in the rain. Also while in his ownership, the car has been fully maintained and serviced, the last service being carried out within the last month. Finished in silver with black interior and black soft top, this 230 SL roadster is supplied with a unrestored black hardtop, a UK V5C registration document, handbook and a file containing the photographs of the restoration, invoices and old MoT test certificates going back to 2005 confirming the mileage used and another file with invoices and old MoT’s from the mid 1970’s. These SL models were amongst the most-loved sports-tourers of their day and continue to be highly sought after by collectors and have recently seen a marked increase in values."