For Sale at Auction: 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. 111.027.12.001042

In response to growing demand from its North American dealer network, Mercedes-Benz introduced a new generation of V8 engines in late 1969. This major technical and strategic advancement debuted in three flagship models: the 300 SEL 3.5 Sedan, the 280 SE 3.5 Coupe, and Cabriolet. They quickly became an international symbol of luxury, refinement, and exclusivity. With a new-car price exceeding $12,000, the 280 SE 3.5 Coupe and Cabriolet targeted discerning buyers seeking the highest levels of hand craftsmanship and performance. The Cabriolet's soft top, designed for the youthful zest of top-down motoring, was truly engineered like no other car in the world. The brochure states that its six layers of fabric, padding, and insulation will not flutter and isolate road noise, and that it takes 16 hours of meticulous hand craftsmanship to construct. With its high price and labor-intensive construction, production of the 3.5 Cabriolet was limited to just 1,232 examples between 1969 and 1971.

Despite their comparatively modest displacement by American standards, the 3.5-liter "M116" V8s were highly advanced for the era. Their design incorporates overhead camshafts and is among the earliest applications of electronic fuel injection. Emphasis was also placed on weight reduction, with extensive use of aluminum components ranging from the cylinder heads to the water pump housing, resulting in an engine that was lighter than many contemporary six-cylinder designs.

Finished in regal Tobacco Brown (423), this U.S.-market 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet was delivered with a matching brown convertible soft top and a Parchment leather interior. The equipment roster included a column-shifted four-speed automatic transmission, driver-side exterior mirror, Becker Europa radio, Behr air conditioning, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, tinted glass, power steering, reclining orthopedically designed seats, power windows, and whitewall tires.

The car presents well today, having been refinished in its factory-specified Tobacco Brown under prior ownership. Inside, the Parchment leather seat covers have been replaced and now display only minor signs of use. Rich burl walnut trim frames the windshield and continues across the dashboard, reinforcing the cabin's luxurious character. Under the hood, a tidy engine compartment houses the powerful 3.5-liter V8. With the brown soft top stowed beneath its matching boot cover, this cabriolet is prepared for relaxed, period-correct grand touring.

Representing the finest personal luxury car offered by Mercedes-Benz when new, the 280 SE 3.5 has been beloved for over 50 years for its innovative engineering, elegant style, and unassailable build quality. These same traits continue to make it a compelling choice as a highly useable classic more than half a century later.