Air Conditioning for the W113 Pagoda — Comfort Without Compromise
Owning a Mercedes-Benz W113 Pagoda is a rewarding experience. These cars were beautifully engineered, elegantly styled, and thoughtfully built — and decades later, they still turn heads and spark conversations wherever they go.
If you own one, chances are you’ve taken great care to keep it original. You appreciate the details — the proportions, the trim, the simplicity of the dashboard. And when it comes to making changes, you're rightly cautious. Most upgrades are a trade-off — comfort or convenience at the expense of appearance. And for many Pagoda owners, that’s simply not worth it.
That’s exactly why this air conditioning system was developed — to offer real, modern comfort without altering the look and feel of the car. It’s designed specifically for the Mercedes W113 Pagoda and fits in seamlessly, using the existing dashboard vents and even the original heater controls. From the outside — and from inside the cabin — everything looks just as it should. But now, the car becomes a much more comfortable place to spend time, especially in warmer weather.
Designed to Disappear
What makes this kit different is how carefully it integrates with the original design. There’s no big “Frigiking” unit bolted under the dashboard eating into your legroom. Instead, the main assembly fits in place of the factory heater box, combining both heating and air conditioning into a single, compact unit.
Cold air is directed into the original plenum chamber — just like the warm air used to be — and you control it all using the same four lever controls that are already fitted to your car. No new panel, no hidden interface, no alterations to the dashboard. The entire system is hidden behind the scenes.
The only visible change is a small on/off switch, which replaces the original cigar lighter. Even that’s been carefully considered — a subtle black and chrome design that feels completely at home in the cabin. If you didn’t know it wasn’t original, you probably wouldn’t notice it.
Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t
The kit includes all the components required for installation:
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A modern compressor with custom mounting brackets and pulley, ready to fit straight onto the engine
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A drier tank that mounts cleanly to the bulkhead
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All necessary plumbing and fittings
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A fully integrated evaporator and heat exchanger assembly that connects to your existing air distribution system
It’s been designed with Left Hand Drive cars in mind, and uses existing holes in the firewall for routing the plumbing. If your car is Right Hand Drive, you’ll likely need to create a couple of access points for the hoses to pass through. Aside from that, the installation process is straightforward, with no irreversible modifications to the dashboard.
With air conditioning, you're no longer limited by the weather. Longer drives become more comfortable, traffic becomes more bearable, and your significant other in the passenger seat is more likely to appreciate the ride. It’s not about turning your Pagoda into a modern car — it's about making it just that little bit easier to live with.
And because the system is so discreet, it doesn't compromise what makes the car special. You’re not trading character for convenience — you're just improving the experience behind the wheel.
