West Coast Classics are proud to present a beautiful example of this 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet with reported to have 83K original miles and to be a long time California car recently acquired from a southern California collector/owner and loaded with factory options including very rare and desirable factory BEHR air conditioning, single seats, power steering, power windows, power disc brakes, outside rear view mirror & factory 'Becker Europa' radio. The recipient of a beautiful original factory color repaint with no expense spared some 4 years ago in it's original 'Tobacco Brown' factory color paint and boasting a new factory correct matching 'Dark Brown' soft top and leather tonneau cover with a very striking 'Light Ivory' color ROSER leather interior and obviously always stored in climate controlled garages since new with a remarkably well preserved original undercarriage and trunk.
It should come as no surprise that both the 3.5 Coupe & Cabriolet was in an exclusive territory of only those who could afford the very best, and who were indeed fortunate if they could even obtain one of these rare imports from their local Mercedes Benz dealer, such was the exclusivity and demand of these amazing motorcars. Hand built with generously applied chrome fittings, combined with the finest natural materials available, provide an unmatched ambiance of luxury and wealth in its lavishly appointed interior, with fine ROSER leather, exquisite 'Rosewood' burl wood; the standard of craftsmanship apparent everywhere on this car is nothing short of astonishing in these hand-built Mercedes luxury cars. This particular car still boasts it's mostly all original interior including original 'Becker Europa' radio and striking burlwood and also boasts original factory air conditioning and power windows!
The 280 SE 3.5 coupes and cabriolets were Mercedes-Benz' first V-8 powered sports cars. The combination of superb performance and elegant styling makes the 3.5 one of the most collectible and desirable car's in the world amongst classic car collectors and this is obviously especially true for Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. With the same basic body as the 280 SE six cylinder, the eight cylinder offered a new interior which featured more wood and leather upholstery as standard. This was a low production car for its day with only 4,502 units produced (3,270 coupes and 1,232 cabriolets) during its only two years of production (11/1969-7/1971).
The car had been built in 1971, the final year of only a three year production run, and dispatched from the factory in Stuttgart in 1971. The original factory 'Tobacco Brown' factory color repaint is in exceptionally fine condition and includes the rare and highly desirable factory options including the original steering wheel, original reupholstered leather seats, original center console, original 'Becker Europa' radio, low grille, original tools, jack and owner's manuals and original factory BEHR air conditioning.
The 280SE 3.5 W111 model. was built for a period of less than two years, from November 1969 to July 1971 with very few models being sold in the U.S and carrying a whopping MSRP of $14,509.00 for a coupe, obviously even more for a Cabriolet, some forty-five years ago! Squarely placed in Rolls Royce Corniche territory, those who could afford the best were fortunate if they could even obtain a 3.5 from their local Mercedes Benz dealer, such was the exclusivity and demand of this amazing motorcar. Generously applied chrome fittings, combined with the finest natural materials available, provide an unmatched ambiance of luxury and wealth in its lavishly appointed interior, where fine ROSER leather, exquisite burl wood and chrome plated fittings abound, the standard of craftsmanship apparent everywhere on this car is nothing short of astonishing. The cost of restoration of one of these hand-built Mercedes has become almost prohibitively expensive.
In 1969, the 3.5-liter power plant introduced the engine of tomorrow for Mercedes. Highly advanced, Mercedes' first V-8 featured overhead camshafts, electronic fuel injection, and transistorized ignition. Output was rated at 200 DIN horsepower, good for a top speed of 127 mph and 0-60 times of 8.9 seconds!
This car must be seen and driven to be fully appreciated - the engine is extremely strong and responsive and the transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears and the engine temperature always remains cool.
In summary, this is one very fine example of the internationally known and highly collectible and legendary Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 V8 Cabriolets. A long time California car and restored only as required over the years by obviously careful and conscientious owners . Understood to have come 83K original miles, 1 of only 1,232 ever built, you will look long and hard to find a finer example anywhere else.
