Used 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL for sale in Houston, Texas
Gateway Classic Cars Houston showroom is excited to offer this gorgeous two owner Sky Blue 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL. The Production of the 230 SL commenced in June 1963 and ended on 5 January 1967. Its chassis was based on the W 111 sedan platform, with a reduced wheelbase by 30 cm (11.8 in), recirculating ball steering (with optional power steering), double wishbone front suspension and an independent single-joint, low-pivot swing rear-axle with transverse compensator spring. The dual-circuit brake system had front disc brakes and power-assisted rear drum brakes. The 230 SL was offered with a 4-speed manual transmission, or an optional, very responsive fluid coupled (no torque converter) 4-speed automatic transmission, which was popular for US models. This 230SL has the sportier transmission - the 4-speed manual. Ahead of the 4-speed manual transmission is a 2,308 cc (2.3 L) inline six-cylinder engine. The 2.3L six was based on Mercedes-Benz venerable M180 inline six, which has four main bearings and mechanical Bosch multi-port fuel injection. Mercedes-Benz made several modifications to boost the 2.3Ls power vs. the 2.2L, including increasing displacement from 2,197 cc (2.2 L), and using a completely new cylinder head with a higher compression ratio (9.3 vs. 8.7), enlarged valves and a modified camshaft. A fuel injection pump with six plungers instead of two was fitted, which allowed placing the nozzles in the cylinder head and shooting the fuel through the intake manifold and open valves directly into the combustion chambers. An optional oil-water heat exchanger was also available. To demonstrate the 230s roadgoing prowess, Mercedes-Benz Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut demonstrated the capabilities of the 230 SL on the tight three-quarter mile Annemasse Vétraz-Monthoux racetrack in 1963, where he put up a best lap time of 47.5 seconds vs. 47.3 seconds by Grand Prix driver Mike Parkes on his 3-liter V12 Ferrari 250 GT. This is the Pagoda SL that drivers want! The original owner ordered this car in December 1963, and it was delivered in February 1964. The original owner drove it weekly to Rice University (where he was a professor of Spanish) from 1965 until 1986, when he put it in storage, where it sat for 12 years. This car is believed to be a numbers matching car. Before it went into storage, the transmission was rebuilt in 1984, with 71,287 miles showing on the odometer, and the engine was rebult a few months later, with 74,032 miles indicated on the odometer. Its current owner was a student at Rice when he first encountered the car, and subsequently kept in touch with the professor over the years. Finally, in 1998, it was purchased by its current owner, with 83,240 miles on the odometer. He began restoring it soon after acquiring it. He indicates that he has records and receipts going back to 1972, when the odometer read 45,600 miles. Its Sky Blue paint gleams in the sun, and both the soft top and hard top are in excellent condition, with the canvas looking nearly new. Inside, the interior looks almost as good as it did when it was brand new, because it has been completely restored by a skilled artisan in Houston, TX, right down to the correct horsehair in the seat pads. The leather seating surfaces feature Mercedes trademark perforations in the depressions between the pads, offering enhanced occupant comfort due to better airflow between bodies and seats. The wood trim looks great and exhibits no cracking. The dashs stitching is uniform and tight, and it looks mahvelous, dahling. This 230SL rides on P195/70R14 Michelins on its hubcap-equipped steel wheels. Additional features and options on this 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL for sale include AM/FM Radio, Leather Seating, Power Brakes, Radial Tires, and Seat Belts. For more information on this 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL for sale, to see all the HD pictures and videos of it, copy the URL below, and see it at this direct link: https://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/show/HOU/1934 . We are located at 1910 Cypress Station Dr, Bldg 200, Houston, TX 77090. You may also call the showroom at (832) 243-6220 or email us at Houston@gatewayclassiccars.com.
Reference ID: GC-55514
