While the 190 SL, known as the "Nitribitt-Mercedes," was considered the little brother of the famous gullwing, the 230 SL presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963 represented a completely independent development. This was also evident in the wonderfully distinctive hardtop, which gave the entire series, internally designated as W 113, the nickname "Pagoda." The designers' stated goal was to achieve a "more masculine" appearance, in contrast to the predecessor model. The "Pagoda-SL" is characterized by sharper surfaces and the omission of decorative elements. This documentation from the legendary SL series extensively and beautifully illustrates the history of the 230 SL.