Lot 547: 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Cabriolet

Body no. 111 0223 12 00 344

Simple statistics the sum up an iconic car, a milestone for the Mercedes-Benz concern and an indelible driving experience for anyone behind the wheel. The epitome of form and function, powered by a seamlessly smooth 2.5-liter SOHC fuel-injected 6-cylinder engine and mated to a refined automatic transmission, the 250 SE Cabriolet is at home from Malibu to Monaco, indeed a dual personality machine. Top up, top down. Your choice. As is your choice of cruising speeds, the car reputedly capable of 120mph.

The iconic automobile line came to be thanks to the amalgamation of two names, Mercedes and Benz. The year was 1926. Some forty permutations and resulting innovations and refinements later the newly restyled 250SE first appeared in 1965 while the last of the series was produced in 1967. It has been said that the 250SE struck a happy medium between the more humble preceding 220SE and the extravagant 300SE. The beauty was more than skin deep as it also offered improved handling and comfort via its independent rear suspension and disc brakes. Only 954 250SE Cabriolet’s were produced, among the last of the hand-built Mercedes-Benz.

Showing only 97,400 miles accumulated during the last forty years, its manifest includes a litany of luxury features including power steering, U.S. instrumentation, adaptive front seats, interference suppression radio set, whitewall tires, heat-absorbing glass, both the windshield and side panes, electric powered windows as well as a soft folding top renewed in 2002. It also still wears its original, though faultlessly repainted Light Ivory color and equally sumptuously re-upholstered cognac hued leather interior. Included with the car are tools, jack and manuals as well as a Mercedes-Benz Certificate of Authenticity.