Guide price: £60000 - £70000.
- UK-supplied, RHD Pagoda showing just 71,000 miles with complete history
- Numbers matching, two owners from new, and the second from 1974, a true time capsule
- Substantial history folder with service booklet showing 18 services at a main agent
- Low ownership, timeless colours, original and correct, a rare opportunity presents
The second generation of the SL series began with the 230 of 1963. Designed by Paul Bracq, its wonderfully crisp styling clothed a monocoque chassis equipped with all-round independent suspension, power assisted disc/drum brakes, recirculating ball steering and a 2306cc straight-six engine of 150bhp and 145 lbs-ft of torque mated to either a four-speed manual or automatic transmission. The car was an international hit for Mercedes-Benz throughout the 1960s and has remained hugely popular amongst film stars, musicians and enthusiasts ever since.The 230 SL Pagoda we have on offer here is perfectly honest and original, just the way we enthusiasts love to see them, full of a character and charm that no restoration can ever replicate. It's a UK, right-hand drive car finished in Silver Grey Metallic, fitted with an automatic gearbox, and first registered on the 1st of August 1966. The original service booklet shows the first three services were carried out by the supplying Mercedes-Benz Dealership, Croft & Blackburn, in Ripon. Care of the car would then be transferred to Charles Sidney Mercedes-Benz, Bradford, for the next 14 services to a mileage of 57,140. A Bill of Sale included in the history folder shows this 230SL became the property of its second owner on the 18th of June 1974. After the 18th main dealer service, the second keeper decided he would personally keep up the maintenance schedule with all work documented including dates and mileage. The substantial history folder includes MoT Certificates from 1975 to 2012 leaving, in our opinion, no reason to discount the mileage showing on the speedometer. This history folder also includes Tax Discs from 1975 onwards, the original Mercedes-Benz build sheet, original logbook and the original book pack including service booklet detailing the service history. Also accompanying the car in this sale will be its original tool kit and spare keys with the original key-fob.The new owner of this wonderfully well-preserved car will need to decide if cosmetically this car would benefit from some paintwork, or maybe to leave it just the way it is. The chrome is excellent, and the interior appears to be in good order with the original headlining, dashboard and Tex seats also presenting well. Having been dry-stored for the last four years the car is to be presented for sale recommissioned with a fresh MoT Certificate. Rarely do Pagodas, UK-supplied, RHD, very low ownership and with such a fantastic history folder come to market, an opportunity surely not to be missed.  "In all the years I have been driving, I cannot remember ever driving a car that I would have liked to own more ". (Sir Stirling Moss in a letter to the racing director Alfred Neubauer.)