Author Archive: Brian Peters

This genuine 57,500 mile 280SL has been restored to perfection by its last obsessive owner. Pagoda enthusiasts are found in two basics camps: ‘survivor’ aficionados and ‘perfectionists’. This car was formerly in hands of the latter (obviously). She has never been rusted, is all matching numbers, has all original floorboards & factory undercoat (remarkable), has a perfect trunk floor (where even dry-climate cars typically rust) and even two sets of factory wheels! All of her documentation is in place, she has all of her ‘Correctness Markers’ (notches, spot-welds, body numbers) and is a four-time show winner! On top of all this her manual 4-speed makes her a real drivers car!

Click to view this car’s Originality, Authenticity and Correctness details!

Note: Please scroll down for all photos in a gallery format. Click on a photo to see the full size version.
(photos taken in various lighting conditions)

In a time where recent appreciation has brought cars to market with descriptions of various levels of accurateness it is wonderful to stumble upon an example for which it can be objectively demonstrated to be what it is purported to be. Certainly it is refreshing to see hyperbole kept in check and nonsensical terms such as “all original, just restored,” absent. And I wish I had a dollar for every car I looked at which was described as being low miles but which has already had replacement upholstery, (sometimes 20 years ago!) which brings us to our subject car.

Essentially a one owner car(more accurately ‘one family’ due to probate) with air-tight provenance (of which even the original, cancelled check which was written for the [...]

California car with excellent recorded service history, recently rebuilt fuel injection pump and electronic ignition. She runs and drives outstanding and recently she and her caretaker have enjoyed four collector-car tours. This is a great driver’s car!

She also retains her important authenticity features such as factory spot welds and headlight notches.

A photo from a tour can be seen in the May 2015 issue of CLASSIC MOTORSPORTS magazine on page 146.

Click here for the main photo page.

View photos of her all original undercarriage here.

SOLD – Thank you Mr. M! Includes factory ORIGINAL Frigiking Air-Conditioning, firewall pad, ‘snowflake’ windshield, correct spot-welds, beige factory undercoating, all manuals and factory data card. She’s matching #’s, dialed in and absolutely rust-free, cementing her investment quality status! She sold new at Mercedes’ Factory store in Hollywood on October 27, 1970 then lived in La Jolla, CA.

Thanks for reading – Brian

Restored West Coast car. Engine rebuilt at San Diego Mercedes-Benz dealership with only 7000 miles! All books, records and invoices included in a thick binder.

Please scroll down for more photos. Click on an image to see its larger version, click again to see it even LARGER! Undercarriage photos are all the way at the bottom.