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A 12,000-mile 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, and the silver-over-black Pagoda has been drawing steady attention with the sale scheduled to close October 10. Bidding sat at $75,000 as of this writing, with more than 880 watchers following along.
It is the final-year version of the W113 SL, finished in Silver Grey Metallic over black leather with a black soft top and a body-color removable hardtop. The listing says the car is believed to have stayed with its original owner in Michigan until a Montana-based dealer acquired it in 2026. It is being offered by Westside Collector Car Storage in Culver City, California, on behalf of that owner, and it comes with service records, a tool roll, a jack and a duplicate Michigan title.
What Makes the 1971 280SL Special
The 280SL was the last and most powerful of the Pagoda line. Its 2.8-liter M130 inline-six, fed by Bosch fuel injection, was rated at 180 horsepower, a meaningful step up from the 230SL and 250SL that came before it. This one is paired with the optional four-speed automatic and rides on 14-inch steel wheels with painted covers. Power steering and four-wheel disc brakes make it easier to live with than many cars of its era.
Inside are the details that Pagoda fans look for: black leather bucket seats, a Becker Europa radio, a VDO clock, and Frigiking air conditioning. The two-spoke wheel with its chrome horn ring fronts VDO gauges, including a 140-mph speedometer and a tach with a 6,500-rpm redline. The seller notes evidence of a repaint under previous ownership and recommends a mechanical inspection and tune-up, which is worth factoring into any bid.
Where the Market Stands
The W113 was designed by Friedrich Geiger, Béla Barényi and Paul Bracq and debuted at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, and the market has treated it as a blue-chip classic ever since. According to the Hagerty Valuation Tools, a 1971 280SL in #3 (Good) condition is worth roughly $81,900. Hagerty's data shows 123 examples of the 1968-1971 280SL sold over the past 12 months at an average of about $104,000, with values essentially flat over the past year at -0.4%.
Recent results show how wide the spread can be. Hagerty lists a low-mileage 1971 automatic selling on Bring a Trailer in August for $107,100, while a 61,000-mile car on the same platform changed hands for $63,000 the next day. At $75,000, this one is still sitting below the Good-condition figure, though with only 12,000 miles shown, the final price could climb well past it before the clock runs out.
For buyers who want the Pagoda look at a lower entry point, the earlier cars are cheaper. Hagerty puts a 1967 250SL in #3 condition at about $61,700, though the 280's added power and optional automatic make it the most usable of the family.
More Pagoda Reading
If you are weighing a purchase, our Mercedes Pagoda SL (W113) buying guide covers rust, fuel injection and swing-axle quirks to watch for. You can also see how another example fared in our report on a 1968 280 SL Pagoda that drew a £35,250 bid at a UK auction, or browse a beautifully restored 1970 280SL for sale and a restored 1968 Pagoda that went on display.
Bidding on the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL runs through October 10 on Bring a Trailer.
