Incredibly Original And Equally Stunning: 1966 Mercedes SL Pagoda

Owner: Daniel Landeros

Year, Make, and Model: B 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL

Location: Santa Paula, California

Photographer: Bob Muschitz

I became interested in Mercedes-Benz’s as a little kid watching my father take on his first ground-up restoration on a Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet. I would always sit and observe him as he worked away. When this SL came up for sale I had to have it because it was an all-original, rust-free California convertible.

It was purchased new at Auto Stiegler in Encino, CA and this papyrus white 230SL had its first service on January 23, 1967 with only 555 miles. It came equipped with an automatic transmission and dealer-installed air conditioning and continued getting its regular service by the same dealer until November ’69. After that it was serviced down the street (Ventura Boulevard) by an independent Mercedes garage until 1974 when the car had about 51,000 miles. Since then it has only been carefully driven another 24,000 miles, and the car still contains its original spare tire and also both the original trunk mat in excellent condition as well as the front plastic floor mats (so rare to see in like-new condition). In the engine bay it still has most of the original water and heater hoses from 1966. It is truly a nice, well preserved automobile and the small maintenance book still preserves the metal ID card that you would normally give to the dealer when bringing it for service.

It’s an original car, and it can only be original once. And it’s now parked next to a new project car, a 1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Cab, 1 of 100 built with all the options that is getting a much needed make over. We don’t drive the SL too much, but certainly enough to feel very comfortable about the car. It has never left us stranded and last time we drove it over 120 miles without a problem. My father and I have been restoring cars for a very long time now. We enjoy it and love what we do. I believe that our work speaks for itself.

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