Gentleman or Playboy? The Battle of Two Mercedes Classics
The Mercedes-Benz 190SL is the automotive equivalent of a well-dressed gentleman at a Riviera beach club: elegant, charming, and rather pleased with himself. Introduced in 1955, it looks as though it has just stepped out of a black-and-white film, wearing a linen suit and carrying a discreetly expensive watch. Its 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine delivers a leisurely 105 horsepower, which means overtaking requires planning, optimism and ideally a downhill section of road.
But who cares? The 190SL was never about getting anywhere quickly; it was about arriving looking magnificent, preferably somewhere with a view of the Mediterranean and a waiter who knows your name….and who also knows instinctively whether you want a Campari Soda or if it’s Negroni time!
Then, in 1963, along came the Mercedes-Benz Pagoda SL, officially the W113, and suddenly the gentleman had discovered Italian tailoring and a personal trainer.
Designed by Paul Bracq, with its distinctive concave hardtop resembling the roof of an Asian temple, the Pagoda was sharper, more modern and considerably more capable. With its six-cylinder engine, better performance and improved handling, it could actually make more rapid progress. It also introduced a touch of architectural sophistication to the Mercedes roadster formula: less Hollywood leading man, more European playboy who owns property in three countries and insists that his espresso be served at precisely 68 degrees….but almost certainly still likes a Negroni.
So which is the better classic? The 190SL wins on romantic charm, nostalgic glamour and the ability to make a simple Sunday drive feel like an invitation to a cocktail party in 1958. The Pagoda wins on driving ability, refinement and the reassuring feeling that you might actually reach your lunch reservation on time.
Trevor of Classic Riviera, owned a 190SL in Hong Kong and he says that although it was not the most powerful car, it was a car that he still regrets having to part with when he left HK for a new posting in the Philippines. The 190SL is the car you buy because you have fallen in love; the Pagoda is the car you buy because you have fallen in love but have also read the road test. Ideally, of course, you own both: the 190SL for posing elegantly outside the casino, and the Pagoda for driving there briskly enough to ensure the best table is still available.
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