Descrição
Finished in Mercedes Red Metallic with contrasting Ivory hide and walnut veneer trim.
First registered in October 1971 - several months after production ceased, making this an exceedingly late-production example of the already rare and desirable 3. 5-litre 280 SE.
Unfortunately not a great deal is known about its history prior to coming into the care of the previous keeper who had the car for just shy of 20 years. The current owner purchased the car in 2023 and has since then moved abroad hence the car coming back to the market.
In the previous owners time with the car it was regularly maintained, and in more recent times had been subject to a full restoration costing circa £100, 000, and as such the car now presents very well indeed throughout, but retains some of its wonderful period charm and patina in some areas, but is mechanically thought to be absolutely sound, meaning this pillar-less coupé is ready for summer evening cruises and long-distance road trips.
The paintwork and body is also in great condition overall, having been stripped and re-sprayed during the restoration work and it remains in very good order, with some slight micro-blistering noted on the offside rear wing below the rear side window, and a crack/ deformation in the lower NSR wing. There are also the usual light chips visible to the edges of the doors, though these are largely hidden in day-to-day use.
Arguably one of the prettiest hard-top cars to ever wear the silver star badge, the W111 ‘Fin tail’ or ‘Heckflosse’ family of coupés and sedans were introduced in 1959 and lasted until 1971.
Ranging from a lowly 2. 2-litre inline-six up to a 3. 5-litre V8 engine in the top-of-the-line models, the W111 was able to fill the requirements for virtually all of Mercedes’ clientele.
Interestingly, despite the W111 being designed by Fredrich Geiger, the coupé and cabriolet models were designed by Paul Bracq, and featured a far more subtle rear-end design with less prominent fins.
With production of the coupé beginning in late 1960, the final run-out model of the coupe was released in 1969, dubbed (somewhat confusingly) the 280 SE 3. 5 which is what we have here. Fitted with the brand-new M116 3. 5-litre V8 engine with 200hp and a top speed of 127/ 130mph (depending on transmission) it revolutionised the W111 from a performance perspective.
The 280 SE 3. 5 can also be immediately recognised by the redesigned front grille, bumpers and rear lenses, but was otherwise markedly similar to its preceding models.
Final production of the 280 SE 3. 5 ended in July 1971, with a total of just 4, 502 built, making it the rarest variant of the W111.
