Vehicle Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING SOLD ON THE "HEMMINGS"
AUCTION WEBSITE amp; THERE IS A LINK TO THE AUCTION ON OUR
"AUCTIONS" PAGE. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5L V8 4 Speed
Coupe.Reportedly 1 of only 122 built with the desirable 4 spd
manual transmission!Original 'Alpine White' factory color
paint.Stunning survivor with all original and never even dyed
Cognac leather interior.Previously acquired out of 30 years plus
California collection.Center Console. Air Conditioning.Becker AM/FM
Stereo RadioFew remaining 280SE 3.5 Coupes or Cabriolets left amp;
way fewer factory 4 spd manuals.West Coast Classics are proud to
present an absolutely exceptional example of this all stock and
mostly completely original survivor 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5
Coupe with the rare factory 4 speed manual transmission and
believed to be 82K original miles!The original factory 'Alpine
White' color paint is in exceptional condition and the rare and
highly desirable factory options, including the car's all original
interior, include the original steering wheel, all original 'Roser'
leather 'Cognac' seats, original wood, original 'Becker Europa'
radio, low grille, original owner's manuals and 'Diavia Frigette'
air conditioning; this striking mostly all original example would
prove a worthy addition to any enthusiasts collection.The 280 SE
3.5 coupes were Mercedes-Benz' first V-8 powered sports cars. The
combination of superb performance and elegant styling makes the 3.5
a very highly collectible and desirable car amongst classic car
collectors and this is obviously especially true for Mercedes-Benz
enthusiasts. With the same basic body as the 280 SE six cylinder,
the eight cylinder offered a new interior which featured more wood
and leather upholstery as standard. This was a low production car
for its day with only 4,502 units produced (3,270 coupes, of which
reportedly only 122 were equipped with the 4 speed manual
transmission, and 1,232 cabriolets) during its only two years of
production (11/1969-7/1971).The 280SE 3.5 W111 model. was built for
a period of less than two years, from November 1969 to July 1971
with fewer than 500 of these low grille V-8 Coupes sold in the U.S.
Carrying a whopping MSRP of $14,509.00 forty years ago, this should
come as no surprise. Squarely placed in Rolls Royce Corniche
territory, those who could afford the best were fortunate if they
could even obtain a 3.5 from their local Mercedes Benz dealer, such
was the exclusivity and demand of this amazing motorcar. Generously
applied chrome fittings, combined with the finest natural materials
available, provide an unmatched ambiance of luxury and wealth in
its lavishly appointed interior, where 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 making the cost of restoration for one of these
hand-built Mercedes luxury Coups has become almost prohibitively
expensive. In 1969, the 3.5-liter power plant introduced the engine
of tomorrow for Mercedes. Highly advanced, Mercedes' first V-8
featured overhead camshafts, electronic fuel injection, and
transistorized ignition. Output was rated at 200 DIN horsepower,
good for a top speed of 127 mph and 0-60 times of 8.9 seconds and
this particular car must drive virtually as well as the day it left
the showroom floor over forty years ago! The engine is extremely
strong and responsive with excellent oil pressure and no noticeable
oil leaks and which sounds absolutely magnificent. The 4 speed
manual transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears and the
engine temperature always remains cool. 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!With prices of the 280SE 3.5 V8 cabriolet
convertibles now selling for well over $300K and consequently with
the progressively thin on the ground coupes that are still left
unmolested now becoming harder and harder to find; the coupe prices
have also been rising considerably as a result (unfortunately many
coupes have been crudely butchered and unforgivably turned into
convertibles over the years!).In summary, this must be one of the
finest, to say nothing of one of the most original surviving
examples, of these highly collectible and legendary Mercedes-Benz
280SE 3.5 V8 Coupes left available anywhere in such rare turn-key
ready daily appreciating, daily driving and daily head-turning
condition, let alone with both the rare factory 4 speed manual
transmission amp; console amp; air conditioning!