When it comes to luxury saloons, there's nothing quite like a classic Mercedes. And the W108 is cream of the crop. With subtle, elegant design, attention to detail and a reputation for bulletproof reliability, it's no wonder they remain a popular purchase for collectors and aficionados. As a classic that can genuinely be used on a daily basis if required, they make a great case for themselves.

With only two owners from new, and having covered less than 60,000Km, this particular W108 has covered an average of just over 1,100Km a year and is presented in fine, original condition. Owned by a collector and only being offered for sale as they now require more space, this is an excellent opportunity to purchase a solid example of one of the finest cars ever made.

With wooden trim across the dash and door surrounds, caramel-coloured 'Bamboo' leather upholstery and a gorgeous, contrasting white steering wheel, this 280SE strikes a dashing figure. The cabin of the W108 has always been a lovely, airy and comfortable place to be, and this example is no different.

Those seats are deeply cushioned and very comfortable, presented in overall good condition. The driver's seat is showing some signs of wear, with a couple of seams having split on the squab, but this appears to be a relatively simple fix, and the leather itself does not appear to have perished. The rest of the seats and the arm-rests appear to be in much better condition.

All of the switchgear is present and correct. There is a pleasing level of patination on display across the controls, trim, dash and instruments. The icons on the column controls have been mostly work away through age, but the vendor tells us that all of the cars work exactly as they should. On the dashboard is a plaque of authenticity from the "Clube Portugues De Automoveis Antigos", this confirms the chassis number matches the registration. Unfortunately, the period Sanyo radio is non-functioning.

The carpets are in reasonable condition, with period-style woven floor mats. Unlike so many cars of this vintage, the headlining is in good condition, showing no signs of damage or sagging. The one area any new owner may wish to address is the wooden trim of the window surrounds – it is in need of refurbishment and in some areas is badly cracked and warped. Moving to the back, the boot area is finished with a dark grey carpet and is in overall good condition, containing a spare wheel and the original jack.

Overall, we would describe the interior as being in reasonable, unrestored condition. With a little sympathetic restoration, it would soon be back to its very best.

Benefitting from a recent respray, the Black Plate paintwork of this car looks to be in very good condition. With no damage, corrosion or signs of wear, it contrasts wonderfully with the brightwork to create a graceful and stylish aesthetic. When looking at the metalwork itself, all of the body panels appear straight and undamaged, with no corrosion or bubbling.

While the paint has been refreshed, all of the badging and brightwork on the car is original, and so possesses a nice level of wear. There is some light pitting on some of the chrome, some small scratches to the OSR rubber section of the bumper and other minor blemishes. But all the trim is intact, and we think that this genuine patina adds some real character and charm to the vehicle. All four wheels are in good condition, wearing Kumho tyres with plenty of tread, and finished with the classic colour-matched Mercedes hub-caps. There are a couple of very minor blemishes on these, but nothing that would readily be noticed.

Underneath, the car looks good. There are only one or two areas where some light surface corrosion is beginning to be seen, but overall the underside looks to be in good condition.

In truth, this is a very straight, original car, presented with a handsome colour scheme and in fine condition.

Mercedes-Benz straight-six engines from this era are legendary for their build quality and reliability. And here we have a fine example of the breed: the 2.8-litre 158bhp model, featuring Bosch mechanical fuel injection. They're a great sounding engine, that offers a healthy level of performance. Mated to the manual transmission in this car, it offers both a cosseting, luxurious ride and the ability to enjoy the thrill of snicking through the gears when appropriate.

The owner tells us that the car sounds fantastic, driving, steering and stopping just as it should with no unwelcome noises and no known mechanical issues. They tell us that the car has been maintained by an independent specialist and, combined with the low mileage, this should give buyers real confidence in the quality of the vehicle.

There is some very light surface corrosion on one or two elements in the engine bay, but again it's nothing that would concern us and appears to be purely cosmetic.

If you're after an example of a classic luxury saloon, not much touches the W108. Beautifully styled, with real restraint and delicacy of form, they remain a pretty and deeply desirable car. They're a great investment too, as period Mercedes-Benz saloons have traditionally held their value very well.

Looking at this example, what we have is a matching numbers car (confirmed by the Clube Portugues De Automoveis Antigos) that presents in great condition for a largely unrestored, 52 year old vehicle. With a classic black-over-caramel colour scheme, masses of original features and genuinely low mileage, this should be firmly on the radar of anyone that loves classic cars. It's a great opportunity to own a genuine, highly-regarded car from one of the world's greatest marques.

With a little love and a light-touch refurbishment to the cabin, this delightful old saloon could soon take pride of place in any collection.


Notice to bidders