A Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pagoda valued at $180,000 lost a wheel on the Panamericana Highway and was rear-ended by other vehicles, leaving it destroyed. The car had just left the workshop that day after five years of restoration, and no one was injured in the crash that happened around 9:30 a.m.
On Saturday, December 28, around 9:30 a.m., a Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pagoda—an iconic model produced from 1963 to 1971 and nicknamed 'Pagoda' for its removable hardtop—suffered a severe accident on the Panamericana Highway, near the intersection with Camino del Buen Ayre. The vehicle, valued at $180,000, had undergone five years of restoration at a specialized workshop and left the mechanic that same morning. Its driver had planned a trip to Punta del Este, but the journey was canceled due to the malfunction.
The cause of the incident was a poorly adjusted nut on one of the wheels, leading to the axle detaching while traveling on the expressway. The car came to a stop without any signaling, creating an extreme hazard. Seconds later, another vehicle rear-ended it, shoving it across the lanes where it was hit by additional cars. Images and videos of the crash quickly spread on social media, showing the detached wheel just meters away and severe damage to the Pagoda's bodywork and chassis.
Despite the crash's severity, there were no injuries or fatalities, only material damage. Emergency services responded swiftly: traffic safety personnel and firefighters removed the vehicles and cleared the roadway, partially interrupting traffic in the area. This classic model, renowned for its innovative design, currently fetches between $130,000 and $180,000 on the market.
