Market Finds: This Mint '64 Mercedes-Benz has done 500 Miles Per Year

This Mint ’64 Mercedes-Benz has done 500 Miles Per Year

By Petrolicious Productions
March 6, 2014
7 comments

The car: 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL

Price: $49,000

Location: Rochester, Pennsylvania, USA

Original Ad: Click here

The next time you stop by the water cooler, take a poll on what’s the greatest automobile of the 20th Century and it’s possible that more than one person will answer “Mercedes 300 SL ‘Gullwing’.” The original 1954 coupe was inspired by New York distributor Max Hoffman, who felt Americans would be interested in a street version of Merc’s ‘W194’ race car. It also was one of the first production vehicles to use fuel injection. The roadster replaced the Gullwing in 1957, but there also was a companion 190 SL roadster from 1955 to 1963.

The successor of the two, the 230 SL, slotted nicely in between. Debuting at the Geneva Motor Show 51 years ago, the ‘W113’ sports car came equipped with a fuel-injected 150hp 2.3L straight-six and very contemporary ‘pagoda’ roof, so named due to its slightly concave accessory hardtop. Shifting chores were handled by a four-speed manual or available four-speed automatic with fluid-coupling. By the end of its tenure in 1971, the model had been upgraded to the 280 SL and was then replaced by the less-sporting 350 SL.

This example on eBay is a western Pennsylvania-based 1964 230 SL that the seller claims is “in excellent, beautiful condition” and driven sparingly. The body has “absolutely no rust” and “there is [sic] no mechanical or body issues [and] the chrome is in excellent condition.” All suspension and brake components have been replaced, and even the minor details like rubber trim has been replaced where needed. Inside, the interior is “original but blemish-free with no old smell.” Best of all, this one has a four-speed manual, something rather uncommon on American versions. With only 4,752 US-spec 230 SLs produced, it’s somewhat of a rarity too. All this, plus “you can buy this beauty with total confidence to be a daily driver or just to drive for pleasure and cruises,” makes it just our type of collector car.

If you know of a great, stylish car for sale and would like us to feature it, let us know!

Petrolicious makes no claim as to the accuracy of the information contained in the car’s original listing, nor will it be held responsible for any errors in said information. If you’re interested in this car, do your homework and research it extensively before you buy.

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Chris Macha
Chris Macha
10 years ago

They built almost 17,000 230SL models and none had a unique US VIN, this VIN, 11304210007991, makes it a late 65 or 66 build date and the 7,991th one at that. The 230SL never had side marker lights either and would have been exempt even if imported after 1968. I owned a 67 230SL, it was a nice car, sold it 9 years ago.

Chris Macha
Chris Macha
10 years ago
Reply to  Chris Macha

And don’t forget these have five digit odometers!

🙂

Andreas Lavesson
Andreas Lavesson
10 years ago
Reply to  Chris Macha

Not trying to be rude or anything, but the model year seems to be correct. According to my findings, which admittedly could be wrong, it would be a November ’64 car. However, the side marker lights is off as you said and according to another site also the engine bay colour (should be body colour, is black) and a couple of other things is off.

References:
[url=”http://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/USModelYear”]VIN number[/url]
[url=”http://mint2me.com/2013/11/02/early-version-64-mercedes-benz-230sl/”]Stating things wrong (not sure about credibility)[/url]

Chris Macha
Chris Macha
10 years ago

Andreas, you are correct, it is a very late 64 build date, I forgot that they first came out in 63.

Chris

Andreas Lavesson
Andreas Lavesson
10 years ago

The Pagoda sure is a nice looking car. I know cars are generally quite cheap in the U.S and I can’t claim I know a lot about the market. However, seeing as you’d have to pay at least $15,000 more (and up to a staggering $92,000) for a Pagoda over here, I’d say that car is an absolute bargain. Could buy it, ship it across the Atlantic and still sell it for a very healthy profit. However, I hope the future buyer won’t buy it as an investment, but instead cherish and drive it.

Matthew Lange
10 years ago

Seems well priced if the car is in the condition it is claimed to be.

Dustin Rittle
Dustin Rittle
10 years ago

Its nice to see a great car like this in my home state of PA. Now Im not a huge fan of Mercedes-benz but i always loved the 230,250,280 sl models. From the short wide chassis to the great suspension and brakes along with the fuel injected engine must make this car a real treat to drive

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