1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 280SE Convertible

Just 1,232 examples of the Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet were produced from August 1969 through July 1971. They were the last four-place Mercedes-Benz convertibles produced until the 1990s.

This particular U.S.-delivery example was completed during May of 1970 and finished with a Tobacco Brown (DB 423) paint with a dark brown convertible top, Parchment leather upholstery, and dark brown carpeting. It is believed to be one of as few as 802 U.S.-delivered examples. Factory original features included front bucket seats, US instruments, driver's side and rearview mirrors, and a column-shifted automatic transmission. Additional features included a folding armrest with stowage box, electric window lifts, tinted windshield and door glass, Behr air conditioner, a Becker Europa radio, and steel wheels with one-piece hubcaps mounting whitewall tires.

It is believed that the car was sold new in California and resided there for many years. Since new, the car received selective cosmetic and mechanical freshening including a repaint in factory-specified Tobacco Brown. The Parchment leather seating surfaces are believed to be original, as are the dark brown carpeting and burl-wood dash inserts. There are currently 84,000 miles on the odometer.

The engine is the original M116 SOHC 3.5-liter V-8 engine with Bosch D-Jetronic Electronic Fuel Injection and paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. There are four-wheel servo-assisted hydraulic disc brakes and an independent suspension with coil springs. It had correct vinyl floor mats, a tool roll, spare, and emergency accessories in place.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2022