Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

The very special Pagoda - Mercedes-Benz 280 SL with five-speed gearbox

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on October 2, 2016

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bonhams

27

Daimler AG

11

Bonhams

27

Daimler AG

11

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - nichts trüb die Eleganz der Linie

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - der fünfte Gang sitzt vorne rechts

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Frontansicht

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - Frontansicht

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Heckansicht

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - Heckansicht

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - der fahrerseitige Aussenspiegel kostete Aufpreis

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - der Spiegel rechts wurde wohl nachträglich nachgerüstet

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - wirkt kompakter als er war

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - grosse Fensterflächen machen den Wagen besonders übersichtlich

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - mit montiertem Hardtop

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - die Dachlinie oben gab ihm seinen Namen "Pagode"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - für den schnellen Ausflug zu Zweit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - beliebte Pferde-Szenerie

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - perfekt für die Fahrt zum Golf-Platz, parken sollte man ihn aber anderswo

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Interieur, ohne Kopfstützen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - handgeschaltete Viergang-Variante

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Lenkard schwarz

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Interieur in MB-Tex, eine andere Bezeichnung für Kunstleder

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - Blick ins elegant ausstaffierte Interieur

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Handgriff und Handkurbel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - drei Hebel zum Entriegeln des Verdecks

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - cognac-farbenes Interieur

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - das Becker Grand Prix Radio

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - der Reihensechszylinder mit Einspritzung

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - sechs Zylinder in Reihe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Typenschild im Motorraum

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - in die Karosserie gestanzte Nummern

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - bei den Türschlössern wurde auf Sicherheit geschaut

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - schön erhaltener Chrom

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - Typenschild

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 5-G ZF (1969) - zwei Aufpuffrohre münden ins Freie

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - auf der Teststrecke

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - Gelb blieb eine seltene Farbe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - rot wurde der SL ab und zu bestellt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - mit Hardtop

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1969) - in flotter Fahrt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (1968) - Juan Manuel Fangio mit seinem SL

You have only

1 out of 38

images seen in high resolution

Summary

Since the early days of the more comfort-oriented variants from the W 113 onwards, the typical Mercedes SL driver has enjoyed shifting gears automatically. However, there was always the manual alternative, which usually had four forward gears in the 1960s. What remained rare, however, was an actually very sensible variant from ZF with five gears, which allowed the engine, which was sensitive to engine speed, to be spared while at the same time being able to directly determine which gear ratio the car was currently running with. Just over one percent of all 280 SLs were equipped with the five-speed transmission, and this report is dedicated to one of these rare models.

This article contains the following chapters

Three steps to the 280 SL
The improved SL
The rare five-speed version
Shift gears and take it easy
Never fully restored example
Further information

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Pagoda, as the Mercedes-Benz 280 SL of the W 113 model series is also known, is certainly not one of the rarest classics with 48,912 vehicles produced. However, if you absolutely want to own a manual five-speed version in dark red metallic paint, you will probably only find one car that meets these specifications. The Mercedes-Benz W 113 model series was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1963 as the 230 SL, i.e. with an in-line six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2.3 liters. In 1966, the Daimler strategists followed this up with the 250 SL with a seven-cylinder engine. With 150 hp, it offered a little more power, but at the same time the weight increased, which is why the driving performance did not improve. And because the competition was upgrading more and more at the same time, Mercedes also had to react. The M 129 was further developed into the M 130, an engine with a displacement of 2.8 liters and 170 hp at 5750 rpm.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Photos of this article

Source: