Vehicle Description
1966 Mercedes-Benz 250SE
VIN: 111021 10 085193
California Car
Complete nut and bolt restoration
Unparalleled example in the Mercedes-Benz community
Quite possibly the finest 250SE in existance
Rare 4-speed manual transmission
This Mercedes 250 SE is an original southern California car that
has been restored to the highest level. The accident and rust free
coupe was disassembled in 1989 by then owner, Steve Serrels of
Orange County, CA, and stripped down to its component parts for a
nut and bolt restoration. Serrels, who is recognized as one of the
finest painters in California, did the body and paintwork. As it is
with many ambitious restorations, this project stalled, and by the
late '90s the car had been stored away in a climate-controlled
garage.
In 2012 Serrels' friend Daniel Landeros, who is well known for
finishing Mercedes restoration projects, resurrected the
enterprise. Over the next 8 months the 250 SE was reassembled and
completed. Every part that was not up to concours standards was
replaced with either NOS parts, or new parts directly from
Mercedes-Benz. Chrome plating was done by Christensen Plating,
famous for several Pebble Beach winners over the last 40 years, and
the Macassar ebony woodwork was restored by Madera Concepts.
Particular attention was given to the undercarriage and engine bay
ensuring that this magnificent restoration sets itself apart from
the rest.
The result of Landeros and Serrels work is a 250 SE that is
unparalleled in the Mercedes community. Since its arrival at
Canepa, the Coupe has received another 100 hours of detailing and
sorting, ensuring that its next owner will not only enjoy winning
concours, but will also enjoy putting mile after mile on this
exquisite Opera Coupe.
About the 250SE:
With a production run that lasted just over two years, many experts
consider the 250SE to be the best of the iconic six cylinder
Mercedes-Benz W111 coupes from the 1960s. With its seven main
engine bearings and a six-plunger injection pump, it offered more
power than the 220SE predecessor, and greater durability than the
280SE which followed with its narrower gaps between the cylinder
bores.
The 250SE also came with a more elegant interior trim than the
later 280SE, with many chrome plated fittings that were replaced by
satin silver finished parts to meet more stringent DOT rules. The
luxurious wood veneered instrument binnacle also ended with the
250SE, and were replaced by a leather covered binnacle in the later
cars.
