Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional example of
this extremely rare and unrestored mostly all original survivor in
its original factory 'Light Ivory' (MB code 670) color paint, of a
W112-024 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE fuel injection Coupe with it's
original engine, its original tools, original 'Brown' Roser leather
interior and power steering and disc brakes and desirable floor
shifter!In 1968, Mercedes-Benz introduced the 280 SE, the last of
Mercedes-Benz's hand-built model lines, and one of the final
evolutions of W111 platform. They came equipped with the new inline
six-cylinder M130 motor, and they continued the tradition of W111
'Fintails' dating to 1959. The 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 Series was
available as a sedan, coupe, or convertible and was powered by an
overhead-cam six-cylinder engine with two carburetors and delivered
157 horsepower. The 280SE, 280SL, and 280SEL versions received the
same engine but with a 9.5:1 compression ratio and Bosch fuel
injection system and delivered 180 horsepower. A four-speed manual
was standard with an automatic available as optional equipment.
Inside, the car received a wood veneer option on the dashboard and
air conditioning was a factory option. Only 3,797 Coupes were built
between the 1968-71 production years with many of these coupes have
been unceremoniously chopped into bogus convertibles over the years
making this unmolested and mostly all original example exceedingly
rare.The combination of superb performance and elegant and
luxurious styling makes the 280SE Coupe a very highly collectible
and desirable car amongst classic car collectors internationally
and this is obviously especially true for Mercedes-Benz
enthusiasts. This was an very low production car for its day with
only 3,797 units produced during its only four years of production
(1968-71) with very few unmolested examples remaining on the road
or available in any form today.This particular example shows its
original factory 'Light Ivory' (Color code 670) color paint which
is very fine condition throughout. The original 'Brown' Roser
leather interior is in quite remarkable condition for its age
showing only some very mild and quite attractive patina, rather
like your favorite comfortable old leather sofa. This is a mostly
all original example with the wood veneer being in very fine shape,
the leather seats and original carpets showing only very minor
patina in places, the gauges, knobs and dials are all in a virtual
time warp, having always obviously been garaged, there is no signs
of any major damage from the elements. There is no rust and the car
boasts its original factory 'Blaupunkt' AM radio, power steering,
factory tools and with a little TLC this very honest and unrestored
and obviously always garaged and rust and accident free example
would prove the perfect candidate for the Mercedes enthusiast to
fully restore or alternatively a car to be kept in this very
original surviving condition to enjoy and show as is and which in
any case would prove a worthy classic addition to any
collection.Carrying a whopping MSRP of over $10K over fifty years
ago, it should come as no surprise that this placed the 280SE Coupe
squarely in Rolls Royce territory with only those who could afford
the best able to buy one. Hand built with generously applied chrome
fittings, combined with the finest natural materials available,
provide an unmatched ambiance of luxury and wealth in its lavishly
appointed interior, with fine ROSER leather, exquisite burl wood
and chrome plated fittings abound, the standard of craftsmanship
apparent everywhere on this car is nothing short of astonishing on
these hand-built Mercedes luxury cars. The Roser company was a
German leather company and a key supplier of leather to
Mercedes-Benz and other automobile companies over the decades until
the company went out of business in 1994. Roser leather was
surface-dyed, as opposed to vat-dyed which most all leather today
typically is. Vat-dyed leather has the dye permeating the entire
skin, so that when you cut the leather you can still see the
dye/color on the inside of the skin. The traditional Mercedes Roser
leather was surface-dyed, meaning the dye only sat on the surface
of the leather and didn't permeate all the way through the skin.
Roser leather was supplied to Mercedes cars during the 1950s,
1960s, 1970s and perhaps even through the 1980s. The leather has a
number of characteristics that set it apart from current MB leather
and leather that you typically see in other automobiles. These
characteristics are that the Mercedes leather tends to be harder,
less stretchier, and has a semi-gloss surface to it as opposed to
more of a "matte" finish that today's glove-soft leathers typically
have. Roser leather tends to be stronger as well, because the dye
doesn't permeate through the hide. Roser leather is not available
today and has not been available anywhere since 1994 (unless it is
new-old-stock Roser leather from the original production runs,
which MB does have as evidenced by the limited leather availability
from the factory). Any company saying they are selling newly
produced Roser leather is wrong and is being misleading. As
previously stated it is of particular note that this particular car
still boasts it's mostly completely original looking interior
including original AM radio, original steering wheel, leather and
wood and factory tools!This car must be seen and driven to be fully
appreciated - in summary, this must be one of the finest, to say
nothing of one of the rarest example's left available of a mostly
all original 1969 Mercedes Benz 280 SE Coupe with no signs of any
rust and no accidents; a prime candidate for an easy concourse
restoration for the Mercedes enthusiast or simply a fine daily
driver and honest stock survivor for any classic car enthusiast!