Ever Sold At RM Sotheby's Rp3.3 Billion Auction, This Is The Uniqueness Of Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Ridwan Kamil Confiscated By The KPK

The KPK confiscated a 280 SL Mercedes Benz sedan from the former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil alias Kang Emil. (Photo: Tsa Tsia-VOI)

JAKARTA - Mercedes-Benz 230 SL "Pagoda," is an iconic two-door sports car type from the 1960s, which has remained attractive to collectors today. Its elegant design and undisputed appeal make this car one of the most sought after, especially with the hallmark of the concave hard roof that gives it the nickname "Pagoda."

At the Monterey Car Week event which took place on August 8-17 in California, United States, Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pagoda was successfully sold through the RM Sotheby's auction body worth US$201,600 or equivalent to the current Rp3.3 billion exchange rate.

Now, in the country, the story of one of the Mercedes-Benz 280 Pagoda units is in the spotlight not because of its charm, but because of its role in the legal case which became confiscated goods by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The confiscated iconic car belonged to the former Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil, who is suspected of being related to the corruption case in the procurement of advertisements at Bank BJB.

Ridwan Kamil bought the car from the son of the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia B. J. Habibie, Ilham Akbar Habibie. However, Ilham also said the car was purchased with an installment scheme. The price of the deal is IDR 2.6 billion but Ridwan Kamil has not paid it because he has only paid IDR 1.3 billion.

Collector's Crown: Why Is "Pagoda" So Hunted?

The nickname "Pagoda" attached to the Mercedes-Benz W113 series (which includes models 230 SL, 250 SL, and 280 SL) comes from its unique hardtop design which is curved inward, resembling the temple architecture of Pagoda. This brilliant design is the work of legendary designer Paul Bracq, making it one of the most charming cars from the 1960s.

The charm of Pagoda never fades. His historical and scarcity values continue to make him the target of global collectors.

Meanwhile, the 280 SL model is the culmination of the W113 series, produced between 1967 and 1971. Compared to its predecessor, 280 SL comes with a significant performance increase thanks to an arbitrary 2.8 liter 6-cylinder engine (Inline-6). This machine is capable of generating 180-hp power at 5,800 rpm and 255 Nm torque at 4,000 rpm, making it the most powerful W113 model.

With this specification, the 280 SL "Pagoda" is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/hour in about 8 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 210 km/hour. This performance figure is very impressive in its time and is still relevant today.