Everrati’s Electric Mercedes SL ‘Pagoda’ Makes Perfect Sense

There’s an enormous debate to be had around the value of electric-converted classic cars, but there’s one thing that most people can surely agree on: some cars are better suited to it than others. We mean cars where style is paramount, and the combustion engine is just an inefficient means to an end rather than the centrepiece – things like the original Fiat 500, the classic Land Rover, and the Citroen DS.

Another perfect candidate is surely the W113-generation Mercedes-Benz SL. Almost universally referred to as the ‘Pagoda’ SL for the distinctive, slightly concave hardtop it was available with, it was produced from 1963 to 1971 and is considered by many to be peak SL.

That’s almost all because of its exquisite styling, however, which was the ultimate exercise in restrained elegance. It’s always been a car that’s been at its best gently cruising at five-tenths, which makes this electric W113 from classic EV swap specialists Everrati make all the more sense.

Everrati replaces the original powertrain with a 300bhp electric motor, which continues to drive the rear wheels, now via a new limited-slip differential. It can be paired with one of two batteries: the basic 54.4kWh unit provides a quoted 160-mile range and a 0-60mph time of below eight seconds, while the ‘Touring’ version is equipped with a 68kWh battery which increases range to “more than 200 miles” and drops the 0-60 time to under seven seconds.

It features everything we’re used to in modern EVs, including regenerative braking and the ability to use DC fast chargers. It’s also all entirely reversible, meaning any SL converted by Everrati can be returned to standard further down the line.

Understandably, Everrati hasn’t done a damn thing to the Pagoda’s exterior, but it does offer a few interior tweaks. These include seats retrimmed in leather from Bridge of Weir, which apparently produces the automotive leather with the lowest carbon footprint in the world. The instruments have been redesigned to give all the necessary EV info, and buyers can also spec heated seats and a retro-look Bluetooth-controlled sound system.

With build slots available to reserve now, it won’t surprise you to learn that Everrati’s W113 won’t come cheap: the starting point for a build is £330,000, and that’s without local taxes or a donor car. Such is the Pagoda’s classic status that you’ll struggle to pick one up in decent nick for anything less than £70,000.