Description
1971 MERCEDES BENZ 280SE RHD – 43K MILES – ORIGINAL & OUTSTANDING & UNIQUE
This is a superb car, original, elegant and unrestored with just 43k recorded miles from new
This RHD Mercedes W108 was ordered new in 1971 in Zurich, Switzerland for Mr Corrie, the then Chief Executive of Shell Oil Vietnam. The original purchase invoice and numerous additional original documents for the car are included in the sale. The Mercedes was ordered to a specification that was appropriate for driving the roads of Vietnam. Finished in (DB717) Papyrus White and (DB135) Blue MB-Tex interior. Optional extras included Behr factory fitted air conditioning, reinforced front and rear springs and shock absorbers, protective under-shielding, MB power steering and automatic transmission with centre gear shift and safety belts front and rear.
The car is mentioned in a book titled ‘Fuelling The War’ by Louis Wessling who succeeded Mr. Corrie as Chief Executive Shell Oil in Vietnam. The book is a study of the oil industry’s involvement in the Vietnam War. A copy is included with the car’s history.
Mr. Corrie left Vietnam in 1972 returning to the UK and taking the Mercedes with him. The HM Customs & Excise Import document details the car being imported to the UK at Folkestone on 2nd September 1972. The white Mercedes remained with the Corrie family until 2010, during which time it was registered to his daughter.
Evidently garaged, cherished and sparingly used by Mr. Corrie in his retirement, the Mercedes’ original and preserved condition remains to this day. The renowned and extremely durable MB-Tex interior has no signs of wear, with the seats retaining their supportive springing to further complement the smooth drive. The dashboard remains as new and the wooden fascia as good as the day it left the factory. The original Blaupunkt radio remains. The bodywork is also in original condition with no corrosion or dents or water ingress in the cabin or boot areas. The original loop carpets and insulation remain intact and immaculate.
I have owned this car for two rewarding years, and have enjoyed driving it regularly. It has always performed without fault. The car has received regular maintenance and has always been fuelled with super unleaded and fuel additive/ stabiliser. I am the 7th owner in the car’s 54 year history. I purchased the car from Milestone Classics (these two gentleman really do know their classic cars) where it was subjected to their very rigorous checks prior to my collection. The car was also previously sold some years earlier through Edward Hall Classics who also subjected the car to rigorous checks and a major service and Dinitrol treatment rust proofing. If you visit Edward Hall’s website, you will see MUU224L remaining on their homepage. I had the car re-treated with Waxoyl by Milestone Classics to further insure against corrosion and the sale will include a high quality breathable all weather car cover. The car had a speedo cluster change on 23/ 10/ 2002 at 35, 305K. The original and boxed speedo cluster is retained with the car.
This Mercedes has a taughtness, refinement and originality that distinguishes it from the majority of remaining examples out there. Every trip made in this Mercedes has a real sense of occasion.
All original books and manuals come with the car together with a superb history file. Take the time to read through the documents and you get a real sense and appreciation of the car’s history, which remains with you as drive it. Look in your rear view mirror as you see the heads turn and try not to be distracted by the admiring waves and nods. Refuelling has a sense of the ‘celebrity’ about it as people approach you, remarking on the Mercedes elegant lines and high state of preservation.
This has to be one of the lowest mileage and most original Mercedes Benz W108’s remaining on the roads today.
This car is very special indeed.
Serious enquiries only. Timewasters will be put into the car's capacious boot and never seen again!!!!!!!
