Beautiful Pagoda bodywork waiting to be rejuvenated
Great potential to be an amazing classic car
More powerful 280SL engine included
The Appeal
With the right knowledge, enough time and all the finances to back it up, a restoration project can be the perfect way to make a car one’s own.
Under the damaged paintwork and missing chrome trim, this Mercedes Pagoda is still the beautiful model it was back in 1967 when it first left the factory. Its restoration project has already been started with the current owner stripping it down, but plenty is left to do.
Seats, steering wheel and gear knob need to be sourced
Floor needs blasting to see full extent of work needed
This Mercedes Pagoda truly is in need of a full restoration. Inside, the car is down to its bare bones with just the dishevelled old steering wheel reminding you this is a car.
The current owner says the floor will surely need blasting in order to see the real state of the metal frame, though some damage can already be spotted.
In order to get this car’s interior looking tip-top, the next owner will have to find a new set of seats, gear knob and probably a steering wheel. While the entire cabin will need retrimming including the dashboard. That being said, several chrome pieces and the original radio are included with the car and will simply need refitting.Mercedes Pagoda HIRES 9517 (25 of 143).jpg16.28 MB
The Exterior
Needs blasting to see full extent of damage
Some parts missing and will need to be sourced
Structural work needed in several areas of the floor and underside
Just like the cabin, the body work shows plenty of potential to be a gorgeous example Pagoda. However, with blotchy paintwork needing to be sanded down and chrome trim missing, there is plenty of work to do before this car is concours-ready.
Repairs have already been made to the car’s body panels, clearly visible on the front-left wing. Though the current owner advises that it would be best to strip the paint down to bare metal to see the full extent of any further damage.
The same can be said for the underside, especially the floor pan. There may be structural damage done with signs on the sills in particular.
Finally, though much of the chrome trim has been preserved either on the car or kept in boxes, the owner states that some pieces are missing and will therefore need to be sourced. That being said, the sale includes two boxes of miscellaneous parts and some new body panels which may solve some issues. Mercedes Pagoda HIRES 2136 (8 of 143).jpg13.79 MB
The Mechanics
2.3-litre engine replaced by 2.8 inline-six from 280SL
Originally a manual, now an automatic transmission
Plenty of work needed
Despite being the lower-spec 230SL, this 1967 car comes with the larger 2.8-litre straight-six sold with the range-topping 280SL. Furthermore, the smooth automatic transmission found in this car is also an aftermarket swap as it was originally sold with a manual box.
The bonnet hides the larger powerplant which is seemingly in need of TLC, as do most of the mechanics.
Underneath, this example looks in great shape for the most part with nearly all parts being present and fitted to the car. Though one large missing piece to this car-size puzzle is the exhaust system which seems to be absent in its entirety.
Several smaller parts needed to restore this car should be present in the pair of boxes provided in the sale, namely the wiring that will be needed to get the engine purring once more.Mercedes Pagoda HIRES 9522 (40 of 143).jpg15.79 MB
Summary
Overall, this car has a fairly solid base for a Pagoda restoration. The chassis and body are in relatively good shape and lots of work has already been done including stripping the car down.
This car should be an excellent project car for any fan of the Pagoda shape looking to put their own touch on the iconic model.
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