Vehicle Description
Mercedes-Benz's fabulous W111 coupe and cabriolet are considered by
many enthusiasts to be the finest built and best performing luxury
GT cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Handsome and luxurious,
the glamorous cabriolet and its elegant coupe sibling offered
impeccable style and luxury paired with previously unheard-of
levels of build quality. These two-door variants shared a basic
platform and drivetrain with the four-door "Heckflosse" (fin tail)
sedans, but offered with a very different styling treatment that
traded fins for more rounded and better resolved detailing at the
rear. While the sedans had upright styling along with somewhat
awkward tail fins that were clearly pandering to the American
market, the coupe and cabrio were more modern, more subdued, and
much more timeless in appearance. The styling of the 280SE 2-door
inspired that of the Heckflosse's replacement, the W108, and the
two-door W111 outlasted its befinned four-door counterpart by
several years. Mechanically, a wide variety of gasoline and diesel
engines were offered. However, since the coupe and cabrio were
reserved for the higher classes, choices were limited mainly to six
cylinder carbureted and fuel injected petrol engines. Late in
production, Mercedes shoehorned their all-aluminum 3.5 liter V8
into the W111 chassis, which transformed the car from an elegant
cruiser into one of the most capable and advanced GT cars of the
era. The 280SE, particularly in cabriolet form, has become one of
the most desirable of all post-war Mercedes this side of the 300SL.
They represent the end of the hand-built era and are exceptionally
fine cars to drive. Collectors have taken notice and values have
risen accordingly in the past several years. This 1969 280SE
Cabriolet is an incredibly attractive and well-sorted example that
is ideally suited for regular enjoyment or casual show. It is
finished in its original and desirable color combination of DB 180
Silver Grey Blue with a dark blue (744) top and dark blue (245)
leather trim. The body is very straight with excellent
factory-quality panel fit and lovely glossy paintwork. These cars
were exceptionally well engineered and constructed, with Mercedes
going so far as to make much of the bright trim in chrome-on-brass.
It rides on correct steel wheels with full, color-keyed wheel
covers and proper blackwall tires. Overall it is an absolutely
gorgeous yet totally drivable car that has benefitted from plenty
of care. The luxurious cabin is certainly one of the highlights of
this 280SE cabriolet. Big, comfortable chairs up front offer
exceptional comfort, while a rear bench offers plenty of room for
at least two additional adults. The dark blue leather upholstery is
in good condition, trimmed using correct grain hides and perforated
inserts. Front and rear seats, as well as blue carpets present in
excellent order and the door panels appear to be very
well-preserved originals. Beautiful wood trim graces the fascia,
upper dash, and A-pillars, all of which have been fully restored to
a very high standard. The blue German canvas convertible top is in
overall excellent condition, and features a dark blue leather boot
matching the interior. This car is well equipped with desirable
options including air conditioning, power windows, floor shift
automatic transmission, and a Becker Europa AM/FM radio. The trunk
is fitted with the correct rubber floor mat, while the spare wheel,
jack and handle are in correct factory locations. Mercedes-Benz's
legendary 2.8 liter fuel-injected inline six presents in clean,
tidy condition in the engine bay. It is the original matching
number engine and is well detailed, and a few select pieces have
been plated or polished to add a little bling. Importantly, this
example is an excellent performer, with the Bosch mechanical fuel
injection allowing for easy starts, and flexible performance
through the rev range. The engine is smooth, quiet and runs strong
with excellent shifts from the automatic transmission. Road manners
are outstanding, as one should expect from these beautifully
over-engineered cars. These are exceptionally good cars that
perform in a way that makes them seem much younger than they are.
Strong brakes, excellent steering and a crisp automatic
transmission all combine to make the 280SE a surprisingly good
all-round touring car that is equally at home tootling around town,
top-down cruising on a coastal road, or up on the motorway for a
long-distance run. Having the added bonus of a top that goes down,
as well as strong collectability in today's market, this
high-quality, matching number 280SE is sure to please its next
keeper. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details
please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7654-1969-mercedes-benz-280se-cabriolet/