1971 Mercedes-Benz

This fantastic UK supplied Pagoda is finished in the rare and beautiful colour combination of black with pale beige leather interior. It is an exceptionally fine and very original example and has covered only 39,500 miles in the hands of five owners, with a full history from new.

The car was supplied when new on the 16th January 1971 by The Chalkwell Motor Company of Westcliff On Sea in Essex to a Miss DE Burrows, a resident of the town. She clearly used the car sparingly, the MOT on file for 1979/80 indicates a total mileage of 5,282 miles. Indeed, when she eventually sold the car in 1983, the mileage had risen to just 6,000 miles.

The car was bought in April 1983 by prestige dealer, Bramley Garage, based near Guildford in Surrey. Following a service on the 26th April 1983 they supplied the car to a regular customer who kept the car for two years before selling it back to them. Bramley sold the car again in May 1995 to a composer living in Chiswick. This owner clearly enjoyed the car and used it sparingly during dry summer conditions. As a result, the mileage had risen to a total of 22,300 miles in December 2008 when the car was offered for sale. During this ownership the car was well maintained by Mercedes Benz Great West Road and specialists Roger Edwards Motors.

We purchased the car at this point following inspection. It was the nicest original Pagoda we had seen and as is so often the case with low mileage original examples it drove superbly. Following purchase, the car was sent to Pagoda guru John Haynes for a major service and check-over. Invoices on file amounting to in excess of £6,000 detail the work completed. Any area requiring attention was fully sorted.

We sold the car in Spring 2009 to a very good customer based in Monaco. Towards the end of 2009 we repurchased the car at which point it was returned to John Haynes for a service and additional fettling. Once again invoices on file document this work. We sold the car again in 2010 at 24,000 miles to another very good customer. He enjoyed the car on fine summer days until we again repurchased it in February 2012 at 27,000 miles. During his ownership the car was serviced by John Haynes.

Following a full service by Pagoda specialists Roger Edwards Motors we sold the car to the last owner, an Irish collector of note with a significant collection. He loved the Pagoda and drove it frequently on dry summer days, during his tenure the mileage increased to 39,500 miles, some of which were covered in the South of France. Indeed, he used a celebrated classic Mercedes garage in Bordeaux owned by the son of Pagoda designer Paul Bracq for occasional maintenance.

We recently repurchased the Pagoda once again and can report that it remains as lovely as ever having clearly been very carefully looked after in its last ownership. It has just been fully serviced by Paul Summer, formerly part of Roger Edwards Motors who knows the car well and is being fully detailed ready for the next owner to enjoy in the coming spring and summer months.

This super original Pagoda really does stand out and has a character lacking in a bland newly restored car, every time it returns I am amazed at how good it is and how well it drives. It has its original matching engine and gearbox numbers, original body panels and remains as per factory underneath with no patches or welding. It comes with a comprehensive history file of service invoices and MOT certificates, all original books including stamped service book and petrol ration booklet! In the correct wallet, tools, original Becker Mexico radio and matching black hardtop.