Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1963 as replacement for the 190SL, the new ‘Pagoda’ as it is also known became an instant commercial success for Mercedes-Benz and went on to be a quintessential sports car of its age. Abandoning its predecessor’s four-cylinder engine in favour of a 2.3-litre fuel-injected six derived from that of the 220SE that produced 150bhp it was far sportier than the 190 but still kept the refinement that Mercedes customers had come to expect. With all-round independent suspension, disc front/drum rear brakes and a choice of four-speed manual or automatic transmissions the top speed was in excess of 120mph and even managed a debut competition victory in the Spa-Sofia-Liège Rally.
Originally delivered in Germany this auto gearbox left hand drive 230 was first registered here in the UK in 2012. Also fitted with power steering the car appears to have received much restoration work, including what looks like a new leather interior and carpets. Supplied with both hard and soft tops it has recently had a cylinder head overhaul with all the rocker arms replaced with genuine Mercedes parts and the tappets adjusted. The paint work is in generally very good condition, and the body is straight with no signs of corrosion, mechanically it drives great. A nice example, overall it is in fine order. It comes suppled with a new MoT, and the UK V5C logbook. SOLD.
