1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
- Engine
- 3.5L M116 V8
- Colour
- Light beige (DB181 'Hellbeige')
A 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 saloon, finished in its original factory DB181 Light Beige over a matching Beige interior, with a matching-numbers M116 V8 engine confirmed by the original Data Card. Delivered new for the European market without radio or air-conditioning, the car subsequently passed through Canada, Morocco, and North America before undergoing a comprehensive frame-off restoration. Accompanied by its Data Card, owner's manual, service book, and extensive receipts, it presents as a well-documented survivor of the W111 generation with 144,000 recorded miles.
Ownership
- 2025-10-03Auction saleSold US$285,000
- → 2013Acquisition unknownMansour Ismailpartial documentation
Car's whereabouts were unclear in the early 2000s; it reappeared in Morocco and was sold by this individual in 2013.
- 2013 →Private saleCurrent owner since 2005full documentation
Acquired the vehicle from Mansour Ismail upon its return from Morocco; commissioned a thorough restoration to preserve factory-correct specifications, supported by a binder of receipts and documentation.
- Date unknownPrivate saleMontreal enthusiastpartial documentation
Purchased from Miller Motor Cars in Greenwich, Connecticut in the mid-1980s; vehicle was kept in Canada and regularly maintained until the late 1990s.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Service
Regular servicing and mechanical upkeep carried out while the car was based in Canada, continuing through the late 1990s.
Performed during the Montreal enthusiast's period of ownership.
- —Restoration
A comprehensive frame-off restoration was commissioned by the most recent owner, restoring the car to its factory-correct DB181 Light Beige paintwork over Beige trim while maintaining mechanical and cosmetic authenticity.
Completed more than a decade before the time of cataloguing; documentation held in a binder of receipts accompanying the car.
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