Meet Parihoa’s star; a 1969 Mercedes-Benz Pagoda

The 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda is NZ-new with impeccable history. Photos: Supplied

As I alluded recently, a new car has joined the Parihoa Garage; a New Zealand-new 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda. 

In beautiful Dunkin Green and with Cognac Interior, it is in perfect condition and Parihoa secured the car from Max at the Toy Shop. Indeed, if you follow this column, you would have seen various mentions of my quest to find the ultimate Pagoda. 

Clearly, these are not the times to frivolously buy luxuries, and I watched the listing on TradeMe for eight weeks before I picked up the phone to call Max. 

Pagodas are becoming increasingly rare and I have not seen a 280SL on the market since Roy Savage’s second half of his collection was auctioned by Webbs in 2019.    

The Pagoda is Dunkin Green and with Cognac interior.

Other examples of 280SLs in Australia have been more plentiful, but I’ve watched them drying up in the last year and now it's generally down to just two examples being listed (down from 12). Buying in Australia requires payment of GST and further investments of time. 

The 1969 Pagoda ticked all the boxes for me as it was NZ-new and it came with a full history, including pictures of the original Kiwi owners picking it up for the factory in Germany and then driving it home via Europe and Canada. 

The plan is that this Pagoda will sit as a centrepiece of the Jewel Box, which is nearing completion, at Parihoa and be the ambassador of the Parihoa Garage. Whilst this car is as much for my joy, as part of my collection, this is a car for New Zealand to also enjoy.