Vehicle Description
Mercedes-Benz introduced the W111 in 1959 as a broadly applied
platform to replace both the bread-and-butter Ponton sedans and the
complex, costly Adenauer coupes and sedans. The versatile chassis
architecture formed the basis of everything from four-cylinder
diesel taxicabs to luxurious, air-suspended six-cylinder luxury
sedans. In 1961, the finned "Heckflosse" sedans were joined by an
elegantly styled two-door coupe and cabriolet. The sedan's upright
styling and tail fins were a blatant appeal to the American market,
while the coupe and cabriolet had modern, more subdued styling that
proved to have better longevity. Buyers so well received the
revised styling of the two-door cars that it inspired the
Heckflosse sedan's replacement, the W108 of 1965. The two-door W111
would outlive its finned four-door counterpart by several years,
continuing production through 1971. Handsome and luxurious, these
were among the last hand-built Mercedes-Benz production cars,
assembled with great care by the expert staff at the storied
Sindelfingen works. The glamorous coupe and cabriolet offered
luxury paired with exceptional build quality, a Teutonic
counterpoint to the old-world Rolls-Royce Corniche. Various engines
appeared in the W111 chassis, but the two-door models were limited
to the refined and powerful inline six-cylinder petrol engines and
an all-aluminum 3.5 liter V8 toward the end of production. When
equipped with the 2.8-liter Bosch-injected inline-six, the 280SE is
impressively capable, luxurious, and comfortable with
continent-crushing long-distance legs. In recent years, the 280 SE
has become one of the most desirable post-war Mercedes this side of
the 300SL, and collectors cherish these fine cars for their
exceptional road manners, rarity, and timeless style. Benefitting
from a high-quality restoration, this 1969 280 SE Cabriolet is a
beautifully presented example of Mercedes' definitive luxury grand
touring car. One of just 1,390 open-topped 280 SEs built over a
four-year run; this car is finished in an elegant color combination
of Light Ivory (DB 467) over green leather complemented by a dark
green canvas soft top. It rides on factory original steel wheels
with color-keyed full wheel covers and whitewall radial tires. The
extensive chrome and bright trim were removed and fully refurbished
as part of the restoration, with exemplary fit and finish as
expected from a properly restored 280 SE. This 280 SE Cabriolet was
completed on 30 June 1969 as a North American specification
example, as denoted by option code 491, and was desirably equipped
with power windows and the rarely seen limited-slip differential.
The car was first purchased by Michael Ryan of Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada, and retained by him until April 1998. After
nearly 30 years of continuous ownership, it was purchased by Donald
Padget, also of British Columbia, with the odometer displaying just
53,000 miles at the time of purchase. The car recently has been in
the sunny climate of California, and has been shown at numerous
events, including winning Best Mercedes at the 2022 Pacific Grove
Concours, first in class at the 2022 Chico Concours, and second in
class at the 2022 Legends of the Autobahn. An original high-spec US
market car, this 280 features desirable options such as electric
windows, dual front armrests, and a Becker Europa and fitted
luggage. Although the car was not born with air conditioning, a
proper Frigiking control unit was sourced and fitted, and is backed
up by a modern compressor that utilizes R134 refrigerant. In
addition to the body, the interior has been fully restored with
upholstery, burl wood trim, and brightwork finished to a high
standard. Green leather trim is beautiful, handsomely complementing
the paint color, and finished with factory-correct grain and
patterns. The seats, carpets, and interior panels are excellent,
appearing barely broken in since the restoration. The soft top is
fully restored to include correct insulated headlining, which helps
keep wind noise at a minimum when the roof is up, and a green
leather top boot to keep things tidy with the top down. The trunk
is correctly finished in satin black, with the aforementioned
luggage, and an owner's manual, and tool kit are included. The
matching numbers 2.8-liter Bosch fuel-injected inline-six is
beautifully detailed and up to the standard of the rest of the car.
Notable details include the gold-cad plated brackets and fuel
pipes, firewall insulation pad, and white-case Mercedes-Benz
battery to maintain a factory-correct appearance. The impressive
engine bay is backed by solid performance and exemplary road
manners. These fabulous automobiles bridge the gap between
modern-era Mercedes cars and the classic, hand-crafted models of
the 1950s and 60s. Beyond their historical place in Stuttgart lore,
they are quite simply outstanding machines to drive and own,
cherished by collectors and marque. Offers welcome and trades
considered. For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7761-1969-mercedes-benz-280se-cabriolet/
