A 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda is drawing enthusiastic interest at an online auction in the United Kingdom, where 19 bids have pushed the price to £35,250 with four days remaining before the sale ends at 1:15 p.m. on June 8, 2026. The car carries an estimated value of £45,000 to £55,000 and is offered with no buyer's fees from The Market HQ.
The white roadster, trimmed in red leather — a pairing the listing suggests may be the best color combination for the model — comes from long-term ownership and includes its factory hardtop. The left-hand-drive, automatic-equipped car shows 94,753 miles, reportedly spent considerable time in the south of France and is described as having great history.
The W113-generation Mercedes earned its Pagoda nickname from the slightly concave shape of its hardtop roof. Beyond the styling, the model holds a notable place in automotive engineering history as the first Mercedes sports car built around the company's safety body concept, a rigid passenger compartment flanked by crumple zones designed to absorb energy in a crash.
The 280 SL represents the final and most powerful iteration of the line. Introduced in 1967 with a fuel-injected 2.8-liter engine producing 158 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, the model finally gave the chassis the performance it deserved. As an American-specification car, this example carries a slightly lower-powered version of the engine along with a low-ratio gearbox.
The Pagoda's appeal has long extended beyond enthusiasts. The model has appeared in numerous films and counted actors John Travolta, Charlton Heston and Peter Ustinov among its admirers, along with racing figures David Coulthard, Stirling Moss and Nico Rosberg.
With bidding still well below the estimate range and a universally adored model on offer, the auction's final days may prove lively.
Source: The Market