Vehicle Description
This is an amazing and simply gorgeous condition Mercedes 280 SEL
4.5 that sat in professional storage for the last 22 years. She
shows a very believable 23,600 miles! Finished in Tobacco Brown
with beautiful Cognac leather interior there is virtually nothing
on this example that is not simply immaculate. The best way to
describe this 108 sedan is to pretend you are in 1975 and you are
buying a well-kept certified 1972 Mercedes from the authorised
dealer. Even though this was an Illinois car its whole life, the
underside of the car is clean as a whistle. Absolutely without a
spec of rust anywhere. The car is a true 1 owner from new. It was
ordered here in the US under German delivery and driven for 6
months on vacation before shipping to the US. It was ordered with
every single available option including tape deck and the "SL"
steering wheel was fitted upon deliver at the German dealer. Back
here in the US it was used it in clear, warm weather only. When the
car arrived on American soil, she was fully Ziebarted which has
kept her clean. When we got the car, we flushed out the fuel tank,
fitted a new fuel pump, put in all new filters rebuilt the fuel
distributor and fitted brand new injectors. She fired up and has
purred ever since. We are assuming this may have been the reason
the car was originally "parked" but we cannot be sure. From the
moment we started her, everything worked. Even the A/C started
blowing cold air! We went right thru the car, updating all
services. Everything works as it should and as pictures show, is in
immaculate presentation. Mechanically the car is fantastic with no
known issues. Just a quick look under the hood is testament to how
well this Mercedes was maintained. We are yet to fit the new heater
slide controls which have crumbled as they usually do. Outside of
this, every single feature and function works as it should;
electric windows, door locks, antenna, original Becker radio, A/C,
heater, interior and exterior lights, horn.... the complete list.
Body and paint is excellent. The paint is entirely original without
one panel ever having been repainted. This is very evident in the
close up pictures where you can see the Mercedes Benz signature
"orange peel" in the paint. Very shiny and consistent with hardly
any blemishes throughout ~ with the exception of notable stone
chips at the front panels each side of the grill. We were going to
repaint these but figured a purist buyer would prefer to see 100%
original paint. The wheels and hubcaps are all original and also
never repainted. The interior is an equally stunning aspect of the
car with the Cognac leather interior close to perfect. She is in
virtually as-new condition with no wear on the seats, carpets or
headliner. The leather is like a 2-3 year old example; hardly
showing any wear on the signature Cognac leather red "overprint" on
the ochre hide. Look at the many close-up photos taken where this
finish is truly like new. Almost impossible to find this these days
and reproduction Cognac leather just doesn't look the same. So
original is everything that we did not even need to replace the
seat springs. These are all original and in good shape. The dash is
excellent without a single crack in the dash pad. The dash wood is
beautiful without any fading, lifting or peeling albeit with a few
minor hairline cracks (I reiterate "MINOR"). The wood around the
base of the front windshield and window surrounds is simply superb.
Have a close look at the buttons and switch gear; they look like
human hands have never touched them. Simply amazing. She is also
appears to be a non-smoker car so clean and sweet. The headliner is
excellent and the rear parcel shelf without any sign of sun-fading.
All these things are a great testament to its low miles. So
original is the car, the tyres are the original factory fitment
Michelin X whitewalls. The one in the trunk is brand new and never
fitted to the car.
