Unless you were a witness to Mercedes-Benz history in 1963 it is hard to believe this car, a Mercedes-Benz 230 SL – commonly called a `Pagoda' – is a descendant of the shape that defines Mercedes sports cars, the 300 SL.

There is simply no styling commonality between the shapes: the 300 SL and 190 SL were all curves and streamlining while the Pagoda 230 SL, 250 SL and 280 SL are squared off and sedan-like. It's as if the styling gurus at Stuttgart decided the SL (Super Light) was too beautiful for its own good.

The 230 SL Pagoda was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963. While the Pagoda seems to replace the previous SLs, it was not so much a replacement as a new lineage of Mercedes cars. The difference between the two is the 300 and 190 SL were sports cars while the line started by the Pagoda 230 SL are sports tourers. Indeed, the 230 SL was a fresh, all-new project.

Mechanically and physically the 230 SL has more in common with conservative Mercedes sedans. The engine is from the 220 SE sedan – and underwent a 2mm increase to bore size to take it out to 2306 cc – but Mercedes' retained a similar size to the 190 SL in the 230 SL. They also kept the monocoque body and chassis style of the 190 SL. Also carried-over was the SL grille style with the large centre tristar.

In appearance the 230 SL has obvious links to the Mercedes sedans: angular, squared off, it is conservative in the extreme apart from one defining feature: the roof line. It's significant the 230 SL was nicknamed `Pagoda' by Mercedes itself. For this is the car's defining feature - a dipping roof - and is the exact opposite to the earlier SLs where the roofline was curved down from the centre. Yet, the size of the 230 SL, similar to the 190 SL, and the grille as well as the SL moniker carry-over perhaps incorrectly indicate this is an evolution not a revolution.

The release of the 230 SL at Geneva in 1963 caused a major motoring sensation. It was one of Geneva's most significant international releases in its long history. International motoring journalists gathered at the small Veytraz Monthoux race track to see and drive three 230 SLs cars after it's first showing at the Geneva Motor Show where two cars were on display, one hard top, one soft top.

The 230 SL came with a four speed manual or a four speed auto – which is fitted to our featured car, owned by Adelaide BEA Motors dealer principal, Ray Eastwood. Mt Eastwood put four classic Mercedes on the showroom floor as part of the Australian motoring media launch of the new AMG E 63 in December 2009, which is where we took our images.

Mr Eastwood's car has an interesting history. It was sold new by BEA Motors in 1964 to Mr R.G.D.Cresswell, an Adelaide patent attorney. After Mr Cresswell passed away in 1985, BEA Motors purchased the car and Mr Eastwood started to campaign the vehicle in rallies and classic cars events. As such it has competed in 10 GP Rallies, three Repco Mountain Rallies and in Classic Adelaide. Mr Eastwood had been associated with BEA Motors for more than 40 years, and for the past 23 years has been a co-owner of the Mercedes-Benz dealership.

The injection pump was upgraded from two plungers on the 220 SE to six plungers on the 230 SL engine to also increase power. Contemporary reports describe a highly responsive engine that revved out to a remarkable 6500 rpm that could pull away smoothly in fourth gear from as little as 1200 rpm. Top speed was 190 km/h underlying the car, while not particularly fast, had long legs.