1971 Mercedes 280SL

One owner from new
78K original miles
Preservation Class example

This car was bought new at Don Rasmussen Mercedes in Portland Oregon and was just released from the estate of the original owner. The car is exceedingly original and is still on its title from 1971. It wears mostly original paint in the color of DB291 Dark Olive with a DB158 White-Grey hardtop. The car has been used sparingly over the years, ever left to sit, nd regularly maintained. Its operating condition is excellent. I've sold over 30 Pagodas and can confidently state that this car runs and drives beautifully. In addition to the unique color combination, he car was ordered with a 4-speed, are for a late production W113.
I have over 130 photos below, ith comments added in where needed. As you may know, inding a genuinely original Pagoda has become nearly impossible in the past few years, s most of the ones on market now are restored examples. Pagodas are all about the details, hey're what separate the truly exceptional examples from the rest. Even among highly restored examples, oo often the finer details are overlooked. This is a car for the purist, or those that value originality above all else.

As you sight down the sides of the car you'll see some small dings on the aluminum doors, s well as a few very shallow dents on the hood from improper closing. In addition, here are 3 small outward stars on the top of the trunk lid. All could be easily rectified by a PDR professional. The original owner cherished this car, ut as she got on in age these things went un-noticed.

Both fender notches are present, s well as the original spotwelds along the perimeter of the engine compartment.
There are no rust issues anywhere on the car.

All body panels are original and have good gaps and fit.

Grill surround, tar, arrel and wings are all excellent with no dings or damage. Headlight doors are original, he driver's side has a small chip near the bottom. All bumpers are original and display good chrome.

All of the glass is original and still very good with no scratches or hard water spotting. The windshield shows light road wear and a hint of delamination near the bottom, hown in the next 2 photos. You'll also notice some minor overspray on the windshield gasket, his is the only area of overspray on the car.

The fitment of the glass to the weatherstripping is factory perfect for both the hardtop and softtop. All of the car's weatherstripping is original and still in terrific condition, his car has always been garaged.

Tape line visible at the far edge of the door jamb. I've seen no other tape lines anywhere else on the car.

Various 'senior citizen' touchups.

All of the car's chrome trim is original and still outstanding, ith no pitting or tarnishing.

A nice assortment of books and manuals, lus the original title from 1971.
The car's license plate is the original issued from 1971, t is included with the sale.

Beautiful unused toolkit.

The hardtop is excellent throughout.

The soft top is original to the car, howing the "Wopavin" branded rear window. It has shrunken over the years from non-use, nd will also need to be cleaned. The mechanical operation of the frame underneath operates perfectly and the weatherstripping is all mint. The fidelity and color-fastness of the material is still very good. I've encountered these shrunken soft top problems before and have found that by thoroughly dampening the top it will help in allowing it to loosen up, tretch out and eventually latch down into place. Even easier if it's in direct sunlight for some time while damp. Once latched down, et it dry overnight and it's back to its original self.

The perimeter rubber seal is original, t's still in good condition and seals well.

The cover shows some small scratches but no dents.

The trunk compartment is all original. Aside from some aging and wear on the mat and the underneath of the trunk lid, t's one of the best Pagoda trunks I've seen.

This is the spot to look for rust in Pagoda trunks, hey almost all develop at least some surface scale here on the left. This car shows no trace.

Factory issued Continental spare with rub strip.

Aside from one small patch to the carpet, he interior is all original and incredibly well preserved.

All gauges and controls operate correctly except for the clock.

Remnants of factory glue application visible on the left.

Heater and fresh air levers move freely through their entire range. The directional lever at the top right only moves halfway through its range. May get better with use. Fan switch works and the radio works.

All of the upper dash wood trim is exceptional. The factory wood was intended to have a satin finish, t's common to see high gloss replacements and while those look nice, hese walnut pieces are the last word on originality.

The vertical section of the rear compartment appears faded in the photos, ot the case in person. Had a similar photo problem with the blue cast in the photo above.

The cleanest rear wells I've seen.

Very original engine compartment that's never been detailed. Perfect original firewall pad. Seldom seen distributor cap cover. The engine is matching numbers.

These next 2 photos also offer a good look at the dash wood.

Zero rust anywhere on this car. Correct Weissgrau paint on the underside of the bumpers. The exhaust has been replaced, therwise the undercarriage is just as it left Sindelfingen.

All of the rocker panel hardware is undisturbed and perfect, s well as the jack ports. The original plastic inserts were removed for the photos, hey are included.

About the reserve price:
Out of fairness to all bidders the reserve is held in confidence, lease just bid at the level that you feel comfortable paying. This auction ends Monday, ebruary 15th at 10AM Pacific Time12 Noon Central1 PM Eastern, font>6 PM GMT.

About Payment:
I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion. I would like a $1000 deposit via paypal within 24 hours. Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 5 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup.

Please read carefully:
This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid. Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid. Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this vehicle. Vehicle is sold as-is with no warranties expressed or implied. Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, regon under applicable state laws. By bidding you agree to these terms.

About me:
Please check my feedback, take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, onded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon. I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week.

You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the vehicle in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5. Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com

Post Auction details:
The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, lthough I'll be happy to help with logistics. I have a wholesale account with a shipping dispatch service and can help you find a reasonable rate.
Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote:
Schumacher cargo
CFR / Rinkens
California Shipping

Thanks for looking!

Bob Waldman
Cascadia Classic LLC - DA0639
Portland, regon
503-891-7702