This 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL was delivered new to British Motor Cars of Spokane, Washington and was acquired by the seller in 2023 following long-term storage. Subsequent recommissioning included servicing the brakes, refreshing the cooling system, and replacing the clutch hydraulic cylinders, shifter bushings, shocks, wheel bearings, and soft top. The car is powered by a 2.8-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission and is finished in Papyrus White over red MB-Tex. Equipment includes a maroon convertible top, a removable hardtop, power steering, 14″ steel wheels with painted covers, a Becker AM/FM radio, and a heater. This W113 SL is now offered at no reserve with manufacturer’s literature, a data card, a car cover, and a Washington title in the seller’s name.
The W113 SL was designed by Friedrich Geiger, Béla Barényi, and Paul Bracq and was introduced to the public at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show. This example came finished from the factory in Papyrus White (717) and was repainted some time ago. A replacement maroon soft top was installed under current ownership, and a removable body-color hardtop is included in the sale. There is rust on the right quarter panel below the rear bumper and the reflective coating of the left mirror glass is flaking off. The seller notes an area of discoloration on the passenger door and lifting paint on the left front fender.
The 14″ steel wheels feature covers with painted centers and are mounted with 185/H14 Michelin X whitewall tires. The car is equipped with power steering, and braking is provided by power-assisted four-wheel discs. The brake pads and lines were replaced and the calipers rebuilt under current ownership. A Bilstein steering stabilizer and shocks were also installed in addition to replacement wheel bearings and seals.
The cabin houses bucket seats upholstered in red MB-Tex that extends to the door panels. Interior appointments include three-point Kangol seatbelts, a Becker Europa II AM/FM radio, aftermarket kick panel speakers, an analog clock, and a heater.
The two-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames a 140-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 6,500-rpm redline as well as gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 24k miles, approximately 500 of which were added under current ownership.
The 2.8-liter M130 inline-six was factory equipped with Bosch fuel injection and was rated at 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque when new. Work following the vehicle’s removal from long-term storage in 2023 consisted of flushing the radiator and fuel tank and replacing the battery, radiator hoses, water pump, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, fuel level sending unit, fuel lines, and fuel filter.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The clutch hydraulic cylinders, clutch lines, and shifter bushings were replaced since 2023.
Decoding the data card provides the following information:
- 132 – Red MB-Tex
- 440 – Bumpers with guards, front and rear
- 461 – Instrument with mileage reading and English lettering
- 491 – US-Version
- 503 – Outside rear view mirror, on the left side
- 524 – Paintcoat preservation
- 533 – Interference suppression w/o radio set
- 598 – Tinted glass, wrap-around, darker on top
- 600 – Hardtop with garnish mouldings.
- 641 – Whitewall tires
- 717 – Papyrus White paint
The Washington title lists “Antique” under the brands section.