1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Convertible

11102712003608roadGermany

Engine: 3.5L V8, single overhead cam per bank, Bosch electronic fuel injection, 200 bhp

A matching-numbers 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5-Litre Convertible, chassis 11102712003608, manufactured in January 1971 and originally delivered new to the United States. One of the last examples to carry the elegant coachwork lineage tracing back to the 1959 220 SE, the car spent nearly two decades in single ownership before being imported to Europe and undergoing a substantial restoration costing well in excess of €50,000, covering paint, trim, parts, and labour.

Ownership

2021-04-23Auction sale
Sold €270,000 (≈ $297K)
Bonhams catalogue lot →
1971 →Factory delivery
Original US delivery recipient
partial documentation
Vehicle was built in early 1971 and dispatched new to the United States market; early ownership details after this point are not recorded.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Long-term US owner
partial documentation
A single owner held the car for close to two decades somewhere in the US; a Florida title document dated 1998 is associated with this period of ownership.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
European importer and restorer
partial documentation
The car was brought into Europe and underwent an extensive restoration over roughly two years, with documented expenditure on parts, paint, trim, and labour exceeding €50,000; a current UK registration document is present.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

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Restoration
Comprehensive refurbishment carried out over approximately two years following import into Europe, encompassing paintwork, interior trimming, mechanical parts, and labour, with documented expenditure exceeding €50,000 in total.
Supporting invoices detailing parts, paint, trim, and labour costs are included in the car's file.

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