STAR attractions

60 years young in 2023, the gorgeous Mercedes-Benz 'Pagoda' retains a unique appeal among Stuttgart's flagship SL line

- MARTIN BUCKLEY, NICK KISCH

 

Timeless' is an overused adjective when it comes to writing about old cars, but the Mercedes-Benz SLs of 1963-'71 are among a select group of vehicles that are truly deserving of it. People who were not even born when this magazine first started writing about W113 SLs in the early 1980s and perhaps have only a passing interest in old cars - instinctively recognise the 230/250/280SLs as objects of desire that transcend fleeting fashion.

Part sports car, part open-topped GT, this was the SL that set the tone for all subsequent Mercedes two-seaters. Fast but not aggressive, luxurious and easy to drive, it was a usefully compact and agile glamour machine that fulfilled the roles of Bond Street cruiser and intercity express with equal aplomb. This is a car that has simply never gone out of fashion with both men and women, but its reputation as the ultimate accessory for a leading lady is well earned. On screen it looked as desirable in supporting roles with Julie Christie (Darling) and Audrey Hepburn (Two for the Road) in its '60s heyday as it did with Helen Mirren behind the wheel in The Long Good Friday, 10 years after the last of almost 50,000 cars was built.

In all its forms, the W113 SL was enough of a driver's car to win the respect of 'serious' motorists (Stirling Moss loved his 250SL), while catching the attention of those wealthy individuals looking for a fun yet prestigious second car: a car that would keep its looks and hold its value long after its more ephemerally exotic '60s rivals had fallen by the wayside.