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PRINCIPLE FACTS

A fantastic and rare W108 280SE 3. 5 that's one of a handful (around 100) remaining in the UK. The V8-powered W108 saloon was introduced in 1970, designed largely to appease our eight-cylinder worshiping cousins on the other side of the Atlantic. It worked too, with most of these highly decadent machines finding their way to warmer western climes. That makes this UK-supplied right-hand drive example all the more special.

OVERVIEW & EQUIPMENT

Firstly, it's well worth noting that these were prohibitively expensive cars in the 1970s; the only people who could afford them were captains of industry or film stars. That's therefore reflected in the level of opulence on offer from this 'S-Class', not that it was ever referred to as such.

The cabin is vast with more than enough room those of a tall stature to stretch out. The rear seats are just as spacious and also afford back-seat passengers a central armrest. Textiles come in hardwearing M-B Tex form, their appearance and comfort seeming to shrug off the car's 51-year vintage. Some small Kenwood speakers have been added to the rear parcel shelf, fed tunes by a period Blaupunkt radio.

CONDITION SYNOPSIS

A look down the vast flanks of this large luxurious Benz shows nothing that breaks the illusion of its beautifully painted exterior. The sculpted body swage lines and curves are uniform and panel gaps look perfect. This really is an imposing and yet classically beautiful beast.

Inside, there's those aforementioned seats in exceptional order and wood and plastic that's just as good. This really does still feel like a classy and comfortable place to be. The powerful V8 engine enables 60mph in 9 seconds and a top speed of 132mph, all accessed via an effortless automatic transmission. Bliss.

HISTORY FILE

Clearly owned by one of those aforementioned business moguls, this W108 was used and enjoyed extensively for the first eight years of its existence. Its service booklet shows annual (sometimes bi-annual) servicing during the period. By 1980 it was showing 69, 465 miles, meaning the current mileage is likely to be 105, 600, the five-digit odometer having 'gone round'. After 1980, the car disappears, presumably kept in a garage or barn and forgotten until the mid-2000s, when its next keeper decided to bring it back to its prime.

Various emails from this era are included in the history and show its former owner turning sleuth, piecing together the car's history via helpful correspondence from Mercedes-Benz homologation. The latter were able to confirm the car's chassis and engine numbers, plus it's manufacture date in August 1972. The car was then returned to the road in 2010, judging by an online MOT check.

SLSHOP SUMMARY

Regrettably the car's restoration hasn't been documented via many invoices, merely a few parts receipts, but its current condition shows that whoever carried out the work, seemed to have known what they were doing. This rare and remarkable slice of Mercedes-Benz history presents impeccably. It's an enjoyable, opulent and useable classic you're doubtful to see the like of on the road today.