1971 | Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3,5

Transmission: 4 gears, Manual gearbox
Model year: 2024
Interior colour: black
Registration number: MB-15-87

If a car manufacturer offers a car for twice the price compared to the competitor, then you can expect a bit more for your money, right? But let’s face it, we are talking about a Mercedes-Benz here. The German car brand has built a reputation over time for building high-quality cars, and this Mercedes 280 SE 3.5 is a perfect example of that. In America, this Mercedes cost $13.500 in 1970. That was not only $3.500 more than the comparable Mercedes-Benz saloon, but also twice as much as a Cadillac Deville Coupé!

The 3.5-litre version of the 280SE is a beautiful example of the larger Mercedes-Benz models that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mercedes was encouraged to build cars with larger engines due to the gradual abolition of tax restrictions. Looking back, this was certainly good news because Mercedes was able to develop great engines as a result.

Mercedes-Benz chose the 280SE Coupé, Cabriolet, and 300SEL saloon to launch the new 3.5-litre V8 engine in 1969. An engine made of cast iron and equipped with aluminium alloy cylinder heads, each equipped with a single overhead camshaft. This was certainly an impressive power unit, and this completely new engine produced 200 hp, partly because of the electronic fuel injection.

Performance improved significantly compared to the six-cylinder engines. Interestingly, Mercedes also supplied this engine in the ‘new’ SEL saloon, also known as the ‘New Generation’ body. This way, Mercedes had the brand-new engine for the classic coupé and cabriolet as well as for the newer SEL.

The example we offer here in Brummen is a 280 SE 3.5 Coupé from 1971. This is the top of the range Mercedes W111 variant, equipped with the rare ‘floor-shift’ manual transmission and factory-fitted sunroof. Only 3,270 3.5 Coupés were built, but Mercedes sold only 122 examples with a factory-fitted sunroof.

In the past, the car was repainted in the original colour ‘Weiss’ and fitted with a new blue leather interior. The bodywork is straight, and all panel alignments are nice. The underside of this Mercedes is solid. The 280SE features the original and therefore matching number's 3.5 V8 engine. This Mercedes comes with its ‘data card’. This makes this example an exceptional 280 SE Coupé, which rarely appears on the market.

Are you interested in this exceptionally beautiful Mercedes-Benz? Contact us today. You are welcome at Gallery Aaldering in Brummen. Of course, we can arrange export for you worldwide. Inquire about the possibilities.