A Running W113: This 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda Still Drives

Few classics carry a nickname as affectionate as “Pagoda.” The name comes from the gently concave roof line of the W113 generation, and this 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is a running, driving example of that design — not a static garage ornament.

Under the hood sits Mercedes’ 2.8-liter inline six, which places this car at the top of the W113 range. Every W113 left the factory as a roadster, and buyers could pair it with either a removable hardtop or a folding soft top, so the car works as a coupe or an open-air cruiser depending on the day.

The shape itself is credited to Paul Bracq, whose clean, restrained lines helped define Mercedes styling through the 1960s. Because this one is described as a project, it invites a buyer who wants a drivable car to improve over time rather than a finished show piece.

Projects like this rarely stay available for long, and the combination of top-of-the-line 2.8 power with honest driver condition is exactly what draws collectors to the W113.