• Original sales invoice and handbooks

• Genuine UK import

• Well maintained throughout its life

• Stunning interior

• Showing just 62,507 miles from new 

Mercedes’ philosophy for evolution rather than revolution is best illustrated by the W108 series S-Class Mercedes, however, this is plays as a distinct advantage of the car character. The classy chiselled lines and the delicate detail to attention have not diluted the impact of the design and still has a considerable impact today. 

First released in 1965, this late-model 2.8-litre is one of the last models in the series and had seen a considerable upgrade over the first incarnations, to include a more powerful fuel-injected engine, an improved gearbox and wider more aggressive stance than the originals

This 1972 UK registered 280 SE comes with a good record of its early life, with its service records, original sales invoice and a full set of handbooks. Beautifully presented with a near-perfect interior and evidence of regular mechanical attention, this exquisitely engineered cruiser offers the ultimate in understated elegance.

Rather pleasingly the car has retained its original sales invoice, which states that the car was ordered by Mercedes main dealer Rob Walkers of Warminster in 1972. The first owner may have bought the car for his wife, who both ran a well-known hotel in Hereford. The car remained in their hands for around 20 years until sold it was to a local lady who retained the car right up to 2000.

It then went through a succession of owners in London who appeared to have kept the car in good shape. Its journey through all six of its registered keepers to date have been documented in the paperwork, thanks to the efforts of a previous owner contacting the DVLA to trace its owner history. The car appears to have had around £2,000 spent on it over the last 5 years, mostly on mechanical and running gear items.

Along with its original sales invoice, the car also has a full set of handbooks and a service booklet with stamps covering its first couple of decades of use. This helps to correlate the cars recorded mileage. The original owner kept the car serviced at their local garage, and there is also evidence that they took the car to Mercedes to obtain running gear and maintenance parts.

It comes with several invoices which covers more recent attention to the mechanical aspects of the car including a radiator and water pump in 2011, followed by braking, hosing and bush components more recently. The car also received attention to the fuel injection system in 2017.

The interior is attractively finished in blue, with no significant issues in terms of wear and considering the age of the car, it has been exceptionally well maintained. The door cards are in very smart condition, with both front items fitted with modern Sony speakers. All four items show no signs of wear or scuffs. The seats retain their firmness and are well finished throughout with the odd minor blemish noted on the back seat. The carpets are in excellent condition, with absolutely no evidence of wear. 

The cabin uses a pleasing combination of veneer and plastic fittings, with a semi-padded facia to complete what is can be described as a near blemish-free dashboard. The switchgear, controls and dials are good, with no damage noted on the binnacle. The car has lost its original Becker radio but has been fitted with an appealing looking digital unit. All of the dashboard functions are said to work, with the steering wheel and gear selector being in very good order.

There are a handful of small marks on the headlining but overall it is free from rips, with no suggestion of damp. The boot has light wear in places but is overall free from any signs of heavy use. The vendor has also included a superb ‘Revelation’ red vinyl picnic hamper as part of the sale, which is complete and offers a nice finishing touch to the car.

The bodywork and trim condition are the key elements on these glamorous cruisers, and fortunately, the overall impression is positive with no glaring signs of damage noted. Structurally, the car is in fine shape. Starting with the engine bay there are also no issues noted on the chassis rails or under the battery tray. The floor pan also suggests a similarly positive observation, although very light patches of surface corrosion are noted on the seams and lower inner lips of the wheel arches. There is also a patch of corrosion sited on the bottom of the inside of the off-side rear door. 

The inner wings look good, with no signs of problems noted in the boot well. Externally the car is well finished, with a handful of bubbles emerging in a few areas. The most notable is on the top of the off-side front wing near the headlamp, and some emerging blisters are noted on the lower edge of the door wells sills. The car is completely free from dent damage, and typically the famous build quality still running deep with equal panel gaps and a decent flush fit. 

All doors open with no obstruction and close with a reassuring solidity with decent rubber seals. The handsome metallic blue paint finish is evenly presented and retains a healthy shine throughout. There is a little ‘rash’ of imperfections noted on the rear near-side wing, but in terms of any other impediments, the car is free from major paint chips or damage. 

The chrome work has resisted the passage of time well, with no significant issues regarding pitting or dents on the copious amount of trim. The bumpers, grill and window embellishments are good. The rubber inserts on the bumpers are also free from any unsightly scuffs. The car is fitted with the correct hub caps and all are in good condition with the odd sign of age. The Continental tyres all date from 2013, and all show a very good level tread, fitting comfortably within the legal limits.

The tinted glass is free from any major damage, with light wear in line with the age of the car. The glass rubber seals are holding up well too. The rear light lenses show a little damage but the front items are in good condition with no cracks evident on the headlamp glass.

The engine is beautifully presented, with healthy-looking hoses and pipework observed. This W108 has seen a decent level of maintenance over the years, with evidence that servicing and maintenance have been carried out on a regular basis. The car starts up instantly, with no unwanted noises coming from the M130 straight-six engine.

There were no cold/warm start issues or notable exhaust fumes when in motion.  It soon settles down and idles sweetly, with the stainless steel exhaust adding an impressively deeper tone than one might expect from a 280 SE. The gears operate as intended, and are said to be smooth, no noises were noted to come from the differential or steering while on its short low-speed test drive.

The car uses a traditional spring set up and the ride was characteristically smooth and relaxing, with no adverse noises or knocking coming from the hubs or brakes. It brakes evenly, with no squeals or judders.

It neatly connects the elegant 1960's Paul Bracq era style finesse with 1970’s technology and engineering. Because of the brand's world-famous durability, these smaller-engined versions are comparatively more accessible than the complicated V8 models. The imposing presence gives off an air of decadence, yet the ease of maintenance, parts availability and the quality that comes with every W108, means that owning such a stately solid car is far more accessible than you might expect.

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