The Mercedes-Benz W113 SL is commonly nicknamed the Pagoda. The name comes from its optional removable hardtop, whose slightly concave roofline resembles the tiered, upward-curving roofs associated with pagodas.
The W113 replaced the 190 SL and 300 SL in Mercedes-Benz’s lineup. It debuted at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show and remained in production until 1971, in three versions: the 230 SL, 250 SL, and 280 SL. Mercedes-Benz built 48,912 examples.
The nickname describes the whole W113 family, not one particular engine or trim level. A common mix-up is to confuse it with Mercedes names such as Fintail, Ponton, or Adenauer, which refer to other Mercedes-Benz models or styling eras. The W113’s formal model designation is more precise, but “Pagoda” is the canonical enthusiast and collector term.