Introduced at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show, the long-awaited successor to the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL saw a new emphasis placed on safety and comfort. The 230 SL boasted dramatic and unique styling; a modern update of the 300 SL with more squared-off lines and a broad front grille, it was available as a two-passenger roadster or with a removable hardtop. The hardtop’s distinctive roofline, designed by Paul Bracq and Béla Barényi, featured an extensive glassy greenhouse with raised sides and a lower center panel reminiscent of a Japanese pagoda, hence the popular “Pagoda” nickname for the model. Under the hood was a Bosch fuel-injected six-cylinder engine, capable of producing 150 horsepower. This was also the first Mercedes-Benz engine to have an alternator as standard equipment.

The 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL on offer is a remarkable example possessing outstanding documentation from the time in which the car was purchased by its original owner. Letters on file between the buyer, David Fee of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Daimler-Benz began in 1963 and contain a wonderful discussion of the ordering process, including suggestions of color and options. Ultimately, the specification settled on a Burgundy Red (DB573) exterior with a black soft top, Congac leather upholstery, matching Cognac carpets, chrome roof strips, and whitewall tires. Additionally, the car features power steering, a manual four-speed gearbox, a more powerful heat exchanger, no radio, and a “kinder” seat. Upon completion, Mr. Fee and his wife took delivery of the car in Stuttgart and proceeded on a tourist safari around Europe in 1964 organized by the Mercedes-Benz Club.

The family would maintain ownership for a remarkable 38, until it was eventually sold to the car’s second owner in 2002. A decade later, the “Pagoda” was sent to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California for a complete restoration. Over 50 pages of invoices detail the highly skilled process of bringing the 230 SL to the concours-ready presentation it exhibits today. Additionally, the roadster is powered by its numbers-matching engine. In 2015, the Mercedes-Benz entered the collection of just its third owner, Bruce Iannelli. This Mercedes-Benz is accompanied by a service booklet, purchase correspondence, purchase documents, a maintenance log book, international registration certificate from 1964, a brochure, data card copy, and partial tool roll.

Perhaps one of the most comprehensively documented 230 SLs on the market, this example is without a doubt a must have for anyone looking to place a “Pagoda” in their garage.