This vehicle has been sold
This vehicle is no longer available for sale on ClassicCars.com. Please set an alert if you would like to be notified as soon as similar vehicles become available.

1970 Mercedes-Benz 350 in Saratoga Springs, New York

Vehicle Description

1970 Mercedes Benz 350 SE Cabriolet (Dammerman Collection) Lot#240

What a story this car has to tell. Originally a 280 SE with a six cylinder engine, this car has undergone a complete restoration and after 20 months of work and meticulous attention to detail it is now in better than new condition.

The Mercedes 280 SE cabriolet is seen by some automotive writers as the classiest Mercedes ever built, perfectly at home in front of European casinos and high end restaurants. Unfortunately it was beautiful but an under achiever when it came to performance thanks to that 2.8 liter six cylinder engine.

Noted restoration expert Bob Ensign of Albany was given the task initially of converting this car for better performance with a more powerful Mercedes 3.5 liter V8. However, once he got into the car he discovered all was not well beneath a beautiful exterior. There was serious rust hidden in the complex chassis and body structures.

Owner Dennis Dammerman decided to go ahead with a complete restoration including buying a M-B 280SE coupe with the 3.5-liter V8 to serve as a donor car.

So the cabriolet received a total rotisserie rebuild with careful attention to the chassis structure, replacing and rebuilding rust areas and weak members. The body was stripped to bare metal and then repainted with two coats of primer, three base coats and three coats of clear. It was repainted in a metallic blue that really compliments the cabriolet.

All chrome was redone and new leather dyed to match the original color and installed in the interior of the car. The top's frame was rebuilt and a new cloth top with headliner fabricated in a color to match the interior leather.

The 3.5-liter SOHC V8 with 200 h.p. proved to be in good condition as was the attached 4-speed automatic transmission but they were cleaned and the drive shaft painted and balanced.

The full story of this cabriolet's rebirth can be found in the November 2010 edition of Hemmings Sports and Exotic car magazine.

With the 3.5 liter V8 this beautiful cabriolet is a stunning example of what can be accomplished when a dedicated owner and master restorer unite to build a stunning classic automobile that is now truly better than new.

Vehicle Details

  • 1970 Mercedes-Benz 350
  • Listing ID: CC-1133126
  • Price: Auction Vehicle
  • Location:Saratoga Springs, New York
  • Year:1970
  • Make:Mercedes-Benz
  • Model:350
  • Exterior Color:Blue
  • Interior Color:Tan
  • Transmission:Automatic
  • Odometer:0
  • Stock Number:240
  • VIN:11102512004122
Interested in something else? Search these similar vehicles...