Lot 220: 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet

The ultra-luxurious 280SE Coupé/Cabriolet and 300SEL saloon were chosen by Mercedes-Benz to launch its magnificent new 3.5-litre V8 engine in 1969. An over-square design featuring a cast-iron block and aluminium-alloy cylinder heads, each equipped with a single overhead camshaft, this all-new, state-of-the-art power unit produced 200bhp courtesy of Bosch electronic fuel injection and transistorised ignition. Thus equipped, the Coupé/Cabriolet was good for 125mph with 60mph reachable in 9.5 seconds, a substantial improvement on the six-cylinder version’s figures. Although the equivalent SEL saloon used the ‘New Generation’ bodyshell, the Coupé and Cabriolet kept the elegant coachwork that had debuted back in 1959 on the 220SE and, as befitted top-of-the-range luxury models, came equipped with automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows and stereo radio as standard. Significantly, the 280SE 3.5 was to be the final model to feature this long-established and much admired body style, and today these last-of-the-line classics are highly sought after by discerning Mercedes-Benz collectors.

This Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet was sold new in the USA in 1971 to the Governor of Hawaii before passing into the ownership of the Governor’s friend, the famous singer and movie star Cher. Some years later the car was bought by the prominent collector Rolf Meyer and subsequently purchased by Victor Ribeiro when the Meyer Collection was sold at auction in Paris in 2003. The Mercedes was already restored, only requiring Victor to finish it off in detail to achieve perfection. It comes with all the usual period features, as well as air conditioning, a Blaupunkt radio, a leather hood cover, arm-rests and electric windows. This, the most desirable model on the series, comes with Portuguese registration papers.

Cette Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 cabriolet fut vendue neuve aux Etats-Unis en 1971 au Gouverneur d'Hawai avant de devenir la propriété d'une amie du Gouverneur, la célèbre chanteuse et vedette de cinéma Cher. Quelques années plus tard, la voiture fut acquise par le grand collectionneur Rolf Meyer avant d'être acheté par Victor Ribeiro lors de la vente de la Collection Rolf Meyer à Paris en 2003. La Mercedes était déjà restaurée, ne réclamant plus que d'ultimes finitions de détail pour qu'elle fût parfaite. Elle se présente avec ses équipements d'époque, air conditionné, une radio Blaupunkt, un couvre-capote en cuir, des accoudoirs et des glaces électriques. Cet exemplaire, le plus désirable modèle de cette série, est offert avec ses papiers Portugais.