Mercedes-Benz Museum, Raum Mythos 5: Vordenker – Sicherheit und Umwelt, 1960 bis 1982. Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (W 113). Gesamtansicht von links vorn. (Fotosignatur der Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: D846026)
Mercedes-Benz Museum, Legend Room 5: Visionaries – Safety and the Environment, 1960 to 1982. Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (W 113). Overall view from the front left. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: D846026)
The hardtop design of the SL model series 113 is reminiscent of Asian temples
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Mercedes-Benz Museum, Legend Room 5: Visionaries – Safety and the Environment, 1960 to 1982. Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (W 113). Overall view from the front left. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: D846026)
Style icon
The name “Pagoda” is based on the sports car’s characteristic hardtop, which is slightly curved inwards and is reminiscent of Asian temples. The shape was designed by Paul Bracq, who became the first designer in the “Main Department for the Development of Car Bodies” at the Sindelfingen plant in March 1957. The pagoda roof is a stroke of luck for the image and design of the sports car. And of course the overall design: clear lines of great simplicity and lightness create an expressive elegance. Even decades later, Bracq still described the design of the W 113 as “perfect”.
Mercedes-Benz Museum, Legend Room 5: Visionaries – Safety and the Environment, 1960 to 1982. Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (W 113). Close-up of the centre star in the radiator grille as part of the typical SL face. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: D846042)
Stability
The idea for the concave roof line came from a technician. Force progressions in the bodywork are an area of expertise of Béla Barényi. He points out that a roof curved downwards is more stable than sheet metal that is curved upwards. This, however, is only of limited practicality for everyday use of the model series 113 since the hardtop of a sports car is rarely used with a roof luggage rack for transporting loads.
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