One of the best attributes of a vintage Mercedes-Benz is how usable the car is, even if it hails from the 60s or 70s. Their excellent highway manners and solid construction allows for continued stewardship of an antique car even as other models from the same era begin to feel decidedly old and unsuited to modern roads. The W113 Pagoda is a classic that oozes style and sophistication while still being powerful enough and assembled to such a high degree of quality that it remains quite sought after today. This 1970 280SL listed here on eBay has proven popular with bidders, reaching over $33,000 with the reserve unmet.

The 280SL was a formidable player on the luxury convertible market in the 1970s. Powerful and luxurious, it came in a few different varieties over its lifetime, but what remained constant was how accessible it seemed compared to the likes of the 300SL Roadster. Personally, I like the W113 far more than even the 190SL which bears a distinct resemblance to the more powerful sibling that today trades hands for $1 million or better. The W113 may have been smaller but it almost seemed to be more performance-oriented than the 190SL, especially with a range of engines that all provided respectable acceleration, especially when paired with the rare manual gearbox.

This 280SL has a 2.8L inline-six engine that generated a healthy 180 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. While not blisteringly fast, like all Mercedes with a torquey I6, it will churn along at 80 miles per hour on the interstate all day long. The seller notes that the owner of the last decade or so hasn’t added much in the way of mileage, and that total mileage is still believed to be accurate of just 53,000. The W113 remains highly original throughout with what is believed to be the correct factory paint code (though they cannot confirm if it was resprayed at some point – the color Horizon Blue is what it left the factory wearing according to the build sheet.)

The chrome is in nice shape and the soft top appears sound. There’s no haze in the back window, and although we don’t see it in photos, a hard top is also included. The listing mentions the fact that the Mercedes has been looked after at perhaps the best possible facility for a vintage Benz, with the seller noting that the owner spent close to $20,000 at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center located in California. Plenty of original documentation accompanies the car as well, along with nice-to-have details like the original sales invoice and owner’s manual. Prices have been soft for cars like this lately, and it will be interesting to see where it ends up.