Page 88 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

Produced in only 1967, the 250 SL is the rarest of all Pagodas. Compared to the 230 SL, Its 2.4-liter engine was more robust with seven main bearings, while rear disc brakes replaced the drums used previously.
About halfway through its especially brief lifecycle, the 250 SL, which had essentially a carryover body and trim from the 230 SL, was updated to reflect increasingly stringent US safety standards, including a modified steering column, revised instrument panel padding and other changes to make the interior more impact friendly. For collectors, the earlier half of the 250 SL’s lifecycle is a bit more appealing, for it left the original 230 SL essentially unchanged, but updated the one thing that needed fixing – performance.
280 SL
The ultimate expression of the W113, and the version most prized today, was essentially the later version of the 250 SL updated with a 170-horsepower, 2.8-liter engine, reflecting the increasing demands for power in the late 1960s (as well as constraints imposed by emissions controls). A limited number of changes were made to bring the 280 SL slightly up to date, including a change to synthetic loop- pile carpeting plus the addition of several new options, including head restraints, Fuchs “Bundt” alloy wheels (so named for their resemblance to the cake design) and a defroster for the hardtop’s rear window. Standard wheels were now treated to a full hubcap, with the color once again matched to the hardtop color. A less visible change was a switch to rubber bushings in some parts of the suspension to decrease the need for chassis lubrication; some drivers feel that the increased compliance is a step back from the tauter behavior of the 230 and 250 SL, though it’s difficult to quantify.
THE DRIVE
Given that the W113 family was derived from a much larger car, the W111 coupe, it comes as no surprise that the overall first impression, as befits any Mercedes product of this era, is solidity. On a well-maintained or well-restored car, the doors close with a solid thunk, the hardtop fits like a vault door (and is nearly as heavy!), the controls are precise and robust and the materials are first rate.
The second impression is one of roominess and visibility. Given its relatively narrow side profile, the driver sits high above the beltline, with excellent visibility all around, especially with the hardtop fitted in place of the folding top. While few cars of the 1960s and 1970s were known for good ventilation, W113s provide adequate fresh air from multiple sources, including lovely chrome-rimmed vents on either side of the instrument panel. Air conditioning was available as a dealer-installed feature.
86Wayne CariniAffordable Classics