Highlights

Subject to a comprehensive eight-year professional restoration by renowned marque specialist Kevin O'Keeffe, with bodywork and paint restoration entrusted to FH Ellis Coachworks
Accompanied by a vast history file with tens of thousands of pounds in expenditure
Matching numbers - Data Card provided
Superbly presented throughout - recent professional detail by Wow Factors
Rare UK-supplied right-hand drive example
Modern Becker Europa stereo, Macintosh amplifier and Dynaudio twelve-speaker system discreetly fitted
A full service will be completed prior to sale for the new owner
Car & Classic Magazine - Auction Car of the Week - Feature here

The Appeal

To those of you who, like us, enjoy marvelling at an exemplary restoration, take a look at this Mercedes-Benz W112 Coupé.

Regardless of condition, these Teutonic titans of the road are always guaranteed to turn heads, yet this 1965 300 SE is in remarkable order following a painstaking eight-year professional rebuild.

Everywhere you look, it has been refinished and presented to a superlative standard which is a testament to its restorer Kevin O’Keeffe. It’s not just the bits you can see either, as the M189 straight-six engine has also been fully rebuilt along with the car’s automatic gearbox and rear axle. FH Ellis Coachworks of Hampshire restored the body and refinished the paint, resulting in this being one of the sharpest examples you're ever likely to see,

Seldom do W112s come to market, and to find one as good as this 300 SE truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If this car were ours, we’d be tempted to line the garage floor with mirrors. It really does look that good.

The History and Paperwork

Four-previous registered keepers
UK-supplied in right-hand drive
In present ownership since 09/08/2004
Confirmed as matching numbers (chassis, engine and gearbox) - Data Card provided by the vendor
Little of the car’s history is known before it was acquired by the vendor
Restored over eight years by renowned specialist Kevin O’Keeffe
Exempt from road tax and MOT testing
Original Mercedes-Benz parts book
Original service manual
Collection of old MOT certificates
Period brochure material
Substantial collection of invoices from O'Keefe Coachtrimming, FH Ellis Coachworks and numerous other specialists
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts used wherever possible during the restoration process - invoices present
Other components sourced from all over the world, using leading specialists including Niemöller and Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre USA (to name just a handful)

Tens of thousands of pounds has been spent on the painstaking restoration of this Mercedes-Benz. Such attention to detail and devotion to the quality of restoration work is seldom seen. It's equally rare to find such an enormous collection of invoices - (so it's fortunate this car has such a big boot to carry them all!)

The Condition

Fabulous colour combination
Beautifully restored bodywork entrusted to FH Ellis Coachworks of Hampshire
Impeccably presented paintwork and underside. Repainted to. Grey Blue metallic 906
Neat panel alignment and door fit
Stripped down to a shell, repaired and refinished
Equipped with OEM alloy wheels which are all in very good condition
Few miles covered since the interior was restored, ensuring there’s little in the way of wear
new front and rear wings
New boot lid
All new glass
New brightwork fitted where required
New Bosch stacked headlights
The ornate woodwork was re-veneered
All new leather interior and carpets
New steering wheel sourced and fitted
Modern Becker Europa stereo, Macintosh amplifier and Dynaudio twelve-speaker system

This car presents beautifully inside and out and we’re informed that practically every single component you’d care to mention has undergone some sort of restoration or else replacement with a genuine Mercedes-Benz item.

The car has since been stored carefully and enjoyed sparingly, ensuring there’s a notable lack of wear to report. We can’t discern any notable blemishes to the bodywork, chrome not interior and the vendor assures us there’s no damage or defective components apparent.

The Mechanics

2,996 cc M189 inline-six with Bosch fuel injection
Automatic gearbox rebuilt along with the rear axle
Air suspension with all new rubber bellows and rebuilt valves
Despite there being limited wear to the mechanicals Kevin O’Keeffe thought it was prudent to renew everything, so everything was rebuilt
Engine rebuild with new liners fitted in Germany
New oil pump
Rebuilt injection pump
New valves
New bearings
New wiring loom
A sizeable box file of parts accompanies the car

With a fuel-injected engine closely related to that of the legendary 300 SL ‘Gullwing’, this 300 SE is nothing short of a mechanical marvel. It wafts along serenely on air suspension, gliding through gears with its smooth automatic gearbox.

With all the mechanicals reportedly rebuilt and now run-in, we’re informed that this Mercedes-Benz drives supremely well with no apparent faults to report. Under the bonnet, all looks like it would straight out of the factory and there are reportedly no modifications.

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.

✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.

✓Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]