To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Amelia
Island event, 8 - 9 March 2019.
Estimate:
$125,000 - $150,000
- One of 3,270 built; only 818 delivered to the U.S.
- Highly desirable factory 'sunroof' model
- Lovely condition, with $28,000 in recent service from marque
specialist
- Beautifully maintained following an exceptional
restoration
While production of W111-generation models was winding down,
Mercedes-Benz decided that in order to maintain a stake in the U.S.
luxury market, it would continue to hand-build a luxury coupe on
the established chassis, powered by a 3.5-liter V-8 engine. The
resultant coupe was powerful, offered superb performance and
opulent furnishings, and exuded elegance and prestige. Over the
ensuing three years, from 1969 to 1971, only 3,270 of the 280 SE
3.5 coupes were built, and of those just 818 were delivered to
America, even fewer sporting the highly desirable sunroof.
This is one of those rare American-bound 'sunroof' coupes. Suited
in stately Silver Metallic (DB 180G) over a black leather interior,
this lovely example was delivered from the factory with the sunroof
and column-shift transmission. The 280 SE was eventually acquired
by Jean Paul Guiral, Officer of the Year for the Southwest Region
of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America in Orange County, California.
He would have the car meticulously restored. The silver 280 SE 3.5
was sold in August 1993 to David Newell Benson of Danville,
California, and the current owner purchased it from Mr. Benson in
October 2012. It has been held in a private collection and
maintained faithfully ever since, as is corroborated by every
service receipt issued since 2012 - amounting to over $28,000. Much
of the most recent work completed on this excellent coupe was
undertaken by Laurent DeGive & Co., Ltd - a Mercedes-Benz
specialist based in Buford, Georgia.
In preparation for its next chapter, this lovely example was
inspected and serviced in January 2019. The mechanical condition,
beautiful presentation, and prestigious lineage of this 280 SE
coupe certainly demands careful consideration by a collector who
favors the quality and elegance of a rare and unique
Mercedes-Benz.To view this car and others currently consigned to
this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am19.
