1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Cabriolet W111

111.025.12.002247roadGermany

Engine: 2.8L inline-six M130, 158 bhp
Colour: Black with dark green leather interior and light grey fabric soft-top

A US-market Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Cabriolet from the W111 series, delivered new on 20 February 1969 in Black over Dark Green leather with a Light Grey soft-top. Powered by the 2.8-litre M130 inline six, it is documented by its original factory data card and retains a notably original interior. The car passed through a Minnesota enthusiast, a Texas collection, and The Carrera Collection before arriving in Europe, where specialist work was undertaken by Jürgen Kassen of Örlinghausen.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold €111,550 (≈ $123K)
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1969-02-20 → 2008Factory delivery
Original owner's family
partial documentation
Factory data card confirms delivery on 20 February 1969 for the US market; the family of the first owner retained the car for roughly four decades before selling.
2008 →Private sale
Enthusiast in Minnesota
partial documentation
Undertook a sympathetic restoration combining cosmetic and mechanical work; the car's interior was noted as particularly original at that time.
2012 →Private sale
The Carrera Collection
partial documentation
Purchased via a southern California broker in late 2012; upon transfer to continental Europe, the car was entrusted to marque specialist Jürgen Kassen for general improvements and bodywork repairs.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Texas collection
partial documentation
The car passed to a collection based in Texas before moving onward to California.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2008
Restoration
A sympathetic restoration combining both cosmetic and mechanical work was carried out, while the car's overall originality — notably the interior — was preserved.
Commissioned by the Minnesota enthusiast who purchased the car that year.
—Mechanical
Jürgen Kassen
General improvements and body repairs were carried out in several areas, deemed necessary given the car's highly original but aged condition.
Work undertaken after the car arrived in continental Europe with The Carrera Collection; Kassen is based in Örlinghausen and described as a marque specialist.

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