If one can say that Cadillac is the standard for the American Car in all of its luxury, grandeur and sophistication. Then perhaps it can be said Mercedes-Benz is the European standard of the equivalent. The Mercedes-Benz “SL” didn’t just...
If one can say that Cadillac is the standard for the American Car in all of its luxury, grandeur and sophistication. Then perhaps it can be said Mercedes-Benz is the European standard of the equivalent. The Mercedes-Benz “SL” didn’t just come to be as we see it today, out of a need to fill a void in the accounting department or an idea brought about by the marketing team. The SL has a lineage perhaps older than any other production model in existence. The ground breaking 300SL’s were the introduction to nearly 60 years of continued engineering triumphs, racing victories, and a car the general public could call to as a familiarity & standard for the luxury sports car.There is one particular instance during this time where these cars achieved a golden age and had the perfect combination/balance of hand built quality and modern technology. It was the Pagode or 113 Series cars produced from 1964-1971 that embellished the true meaning of the SL, and today are recognized as the standard for the SL’s lineage. As the 230SL came to the end of its run in 1966 the 250SL was introduced, but only for a brief moment, as the power was then upgraded once again to the 2.8L specification. Thus the 280SL was born and first introduced in 1968. It would run its course until the middle of 1971 when the 107 series was introduced.During its production many options were available in a seemingly endless amount of color combinations. It is rare to see a Pagoda Mercedes on the road most days of the week, but perhaps even rarer to see one that isn’t Red or White as most of them were. The car on offer here is an interesting car for a few different reasons. The first and most interesting point to be made is that of how it was originally ordered. The fact cannot be stressed enough that the combination in which this car is presented is incredibly rare, and perhaps the ultimate combination. “Black on Black”, “triple Black”, or also know as Black exterior, with a Black interior and matching Black soft and hard tops; a true rarity in the world of 280SL’s, and an opportunity that does not happen often. Thanks to the Mercedes Benz Classic Center, we know that this car was ordered from the factory new, with the following options per the Data Card Translation (copy available for review):Chassis number: 113 044 12 001602Engine number: 130 983 12 001051Rear axle number: 07008Front axle number, l&r: 108Transmission number: 008853Steering box number: 3179Ignition key code: HF 0752Trunk/glove key code: KN 079Door/tank key code: TB 048Exterior color code: 040 – black body & hardtopInterior color code: 131 – black MB TexOption codes:401 single seats416 hardtops mounted426 power steering461 instruments in English491 USA version503 outside side view mirror, left515 Becker radio524 paint coat preservation598 heat insulated glass / heated rear pane600 trim strips on hardtop669 mode of packing VE I740 soft-top fabric, blackToday the car matches these original criteria, exactly. It is finished in its original colors of 040 Black and 131 Black MBTex with matching Black soft and hard tops. The engine number matches as well and overall this car indeed reflects as a very nice example finished the way it should be.Early history on this example shows via its original documents to have been sold new out of Gauthier Motors Inc. in Salem, Massachusetts to a Toby Wilbur of Elliot, Maine. It is assumed that Mr. Wilbur sold the car in 1972 to a resident of Vermont, or moved there himself. Our next instance of record is in 1972 when it was serviced by Auto Master Motor Company of Burlington VT, Vermont’s only Mercedes-Benz dealer at the time. There the 36,000 mile service was completed and the Warranty validated. At this time, 6-6-1972, 36,780 miles were reported. A few years later on 3/4/1975 at 65,318 miles, at the same dealership the 63,
