The argument for the prettiest in history will never be sorted as looks are subjective. However, (this may be controversial) we believe that the Jaguar E-Type although certainly pretty, is also overrated. There is no denying the beautiful long hood and short rear end. But, there is also no denying the fact that the body is much wider than the wheels which can through off the dimensions. Looks-wise, a good competitor and one that is perhaps prettier is the Mercedes W113 Pagoda. A car that can mesmerize you with its beautiful front end, long hood, and again, short rear. It is a car that when driven makes you feel like a superstar, both because of its driving characteristics and its gorgeous looks. In this article, we will be going over some interesting facts about it.
The W113 Played An Essential Part In Mercedes' History
The W113 Pagoda might be one of the most important cars the company has ever made as it is the backbone of all modern-day SL models. But how did it come to be? Well, before it, Mercedes was selling the 300SL and the 190SL. The 300SL was essentially a race car that could be driven on the street; therefore, it was loud, noisy, uncomfortable, and for most – unattainable. The 190 on the other hand looked like the big 300, but it was too slow. Mercedes needed something that would provide the perfect sacrifice between performance, usability, and price. This middle ground car was the Pagoda. A shortened version of the big sedans of the time that happened to be a convertible. Upon release, the Pagoda was sold as the 230, but a few years later all engines were discontinued as the 280 version took its place.
How Does This Old W113 Mercedes Drive?
Mercedes of the 1960s up until the mid-1980s were miles ahead of anything else on the road. This is apparent as soon as you sit in one and take it for a drive. First and foremost, you have the wide and cushy seats that are covered in vinyl that seems to last forever. Then, right in front of you, sits one of the prettiest steering wheels to ever be made complemented by a simple yet elegant dashboard design. Set off, and the smoothness both in ride quality, engine operation, and even gear shifting is apparent. These cars give you the sense that they were built with a lot of passion and clever engineering – no corners cut here. This is exactly the feeling you get out of the Pagoda. Now, because it is much smaller than the sedans of the time, the 180-horsepower 280 engine can move the car nicely. In fact, it can cruise at modern-day highway speeds easily. If you think about it, it still has more power than most conventional cars out there. A testament to the technology and knowledge Mercedes engineers had back in the day.
The W113 Pagoda Followed Mercedes' Design Cues At The Time
Mercedes vehicles back then were made even more interesting by the fact that they all feature similar design cues. For example, upon release, the Pagoda looked like a smaller version of the sedan. The headlights and bonnet were similar and even the interior followed the same flow while also using the same materials. Speaking of the interior, something many people do not notice is the fact that the Pagoda is a three-seater. Now, the third seat isn’t in the trunk, it is right behind the right front seat, and it is mounted sideways. Anyone who happens to sit back there will have a side view of everything that passes by as the Pagoda cruises with its roof down. While this feature certainly wasn’t used on any other Mercedes, the general design of the Pagoda made its way even to later models like the W114 and W115. This solidified the image of Mercedes. The most impressive part, however, is that these cars also had safety built into them. Crumple zones were implemented and were supposed to reduce the force on occupants in the event of an accident. Furthermore, if you look closely, you will realize that most interior components are rounded off. This is once again done as a safety precaution as rounded edges are less damaging in the event of an accident. These cars were certainly ahead of their time.
Mercedes Vehicles Of This Era Are What Made The Brand
Mercedes is, to this date, considered a luxurious and appealing vehicle manufacturer. However, the brand’s vehicles are nowhere near as ahead of the game as they used to be back when the Pagoda was released. We believe that the Pagoda era is the period when Mercedes solidified its image as a brand that built cars that lasted while also ensuring they served their owners as best as possible. With recent reliability and service problems, this image has been deluded. However, many people still have the old image of Mercedes as it is a brand with incredible history.
There Is A Drawback To Owning A Mercedes W113
Before we mention the drawback, we shall say that the Mercedes models of this era are perhaps some of the most durable vehicles ever made. They were so well-made that most of them were used as taxis all over the world. A Mercedes sedan taxi in the African desert was not an unlikely site. However, because these vehicles are now highly sought after, values have skyrocketed (around the 100,000-dollar mark for the Pagoda) which means that a vehicle that is relatively cheap and easy to maintain now costs a lot to get fixed. As the values of vehicles rise, so do prices for parts and labor. Parts are expensive as they come from an expensive vehicle and labor is expensive because people who own these cars usually have the means to maintain them (this presents issues for people who owned them since new). So, in case you are planning on buying one, be aware that servicing and maintaining will come at a premium. Other than that, there is not much else to worry about. The Pagoda is one of the prettiest and most well-made vehicles to ever exist.