Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely stunning and
exceptional example of this 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
with reported to have 52K original miles and only 2 owners since
new! The recipient of a comprehensive restoration with no expense
spared by it's original Arizona state owner by the renown marque
specialist Mark Passarelli in the early 2000's and always stored in
climate controlled garages since new. The car was kept by the
family of the car's original owner who died in 2005 until being
sold to only it's second ever owner at the Bonham's classic car
auction in Monterey, CA in 2016, a renown southern California
collector.The 280 SE 3.5 coupes and cabriolets were Mercedes-Benz'
first V-8 powered sports cars. The combination of superb
performance and elegant styling makes the 3.5 one of the most
collectible and desirable car's in the world 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 and 1,232
cabriolets) during its only two years of production
(11/1969-7/1971).The car had been built in the spring of 1971 and
dispatched from the factory in Stuttgart in June of 1971. The
original factory 'Light Ivory' (Color Code 670) paint in
exceptionally fine condition and the rare and highly desirable
factory options include the original white steering wheel, original
reupholstered leather seats in a striking red from their original
blue color, original center console with floor shifter, original
'Becker Europa' radio, low grille, original tools, jack and owner's
manuals and a copy of the original build sheet and original factory
BEHR air conditioning; this stunning example would prove a worthy
classic addition to any world class collection.The car was
originally purchased by Mr John C. Pritzlaff, Jr, a renown Arizona
politician who served in the Arizona House of Representatives from
1963-69 before being appointed as the Ambassador to Malta by
President Richard Nixon in 1969, a post he held for 3 years. It is
believed that Ambassador Pritzlaff took delivery of the car from
Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart whilst in Europe returning with the car to
Arizona. In 1975 Mr Pritzlaff was appointed to the Arizona State
Senate seat vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor upon her appointment to
the Supreme Court. As previously stated, in the early 2000's Mr
Prizlaff commissioned Mark Passarelli, a renown Mercedes marque
specialist, who famously had restored the first steel bodied
Gullwing to sell for more than $1M at auction, to undertake a
comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration of the car with
no restriction as to time or budget and to do whatever was deemed
to be required. The engine was completely refurbished, as was the
chassis, suspension and interior which Mr Pritzlaff elected to be
repholstered in striking red leather. This is a concourse level
restoration of the highest quality as to be expected from Mark
Passarelli. The 280SE 3.5 W111 model. was built for a period of
less than two years, from November 1969 to July 1971 with very few
models being sold in the U.S and carrying a whopping MSRP of
$14,509.00 for a coupe, obviously even more for a Cabriolet, some
forty-five years ago! 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. The cost of restoration of one of these hand-built
Mercedes 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 with only
52K original miles must drive virtually as well as the day it left
the showroom floor over forty-five years ago!This car must be seen
to be believed and driven to be fully appreciated - the engine is
extremely strong and responsive with excellent oil pressure and no
noticeable oil leaks and which sounds absolutely magnificent. The
transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears and the engine
temperature always remains cool.In summary, this must be one of the
finest, to say nothing of one of the rarest example's left
available, of the internationally highly collectible and legendary
Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 V8 Cabriolets. A one owner car until 2016
and comprehensively restored by a renown marque specialist in the
2000's. Understood to have 52K original miles, 1 of only 1,232 ever
built, you will look long and hard to find a finer example anywhere
else.
