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1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 background image

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 280SE Convertible

  • Chassis Number: 111.027.12.003777
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 Navigation
1971 was the final year of the model's production, and 347 examples of the 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet were produced. Introduced in the fall of 1969, the 280 SE 3.5 came equipped with an all-new V8 engine with Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection and produced 200 horsepower. It wore the classic design of the earlier W111 models with styling updates made to the front and rear. The power-operated, multilayer top on the Cabriolet reportedly required over 16 hours of hand labor to complete. Approximately 13 examples were finished per week, and a total of 1,232 examples of the Cabriolet were completed from 1969 through 1971 (the 280 SE Coupe's production was higher at 3,270 units).

This restored, U.S.-spec 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet left the factory wearing a Tobacco Brown exterior over Cognac upholstery with a Dark Brown folding fabric top. It came equipped with power steering, an automatic transmission, instruments in miles, a driver's side outside rearview mirror, a Becker Europa radio, paint-coat preservation, automatic antenna, folding front arm rest, Behr air conditioner, power windows, and heat-insulating glass.

The current Southern California-based owner acquired this 3.5 Cabriolet in 2019 and commissioned a full, nut-and-bolt restoration to his exacting standards, a process that took about two years and spared no expense. It is one of six examples he had restored for his collection.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2024

2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $400,000-USD $500,000 
Sale Price :
USD $500,000

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Mercedes-Benz 280

(Data based on Model Year 1971 sales)
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111027-12-003917
Sold for USD$250,000
  2025 Bonhams : The Scottsdale Auction
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda'
Chassis#: 113.044.12.020871
Sold for USD$170,800
  2025 RM Sothebys : The Arizona Auction
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Convertible
Chassis#: 11102712002553
Sold for USD$264,000
  2025 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111.027.12.002730
Sold for USD$313,000
  2024 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111027-22-003994
Sold for USD$388,220
  2024 Bonhams : Goodwood Festival of Speed
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111.027.12.004293
Sold for USD$362,500
  2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
 
1971 MERCEDES-BENZ 280SE 3.5 CABRIOLET
Chassis#: 111.027.12.003254
Sold for USD$400,000
  2024 Gooding : Amelia Island
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 image  1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 image  
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3,5L Coupé
Chassis#: WDB111 026-12-001049
Sold for USD$53,996
  2024 Artcurial : Retromobile
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupé
Chassis#: 111.026.10.004279
Sold for USD$83,075
  2023 RM Sothebys : Munich
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111.027.12.003247
Sold for USD$291,000
  2023 Bonhams : Audrain Concours Auction
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5
Chassis#: 108.057.12.000258
Sold for USD$8,983
  2023 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111027.12.002958
Sold for USD$243,600
  2023 Bonhams : Quail
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111.027.12.003777
Sold for USD$500,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 image  
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111.027.12.003524
Sold for USD$291,000
  2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111.027.12.003402
Sold for USD$239,333
  2023 RM Sothebys : The Carrera Collection
 
1971 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SE 3.5 COUPE
Chassis#: 111.026.12.002172
Sold for USD$134,400
  2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 image  
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111 027 1200 3641
Sold for USD$251,091
  2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Chassis#: 111.027.12.003500
Sold for USD$313,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Sold for USD$137,500
  2023 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 'Sunroof' Coupe
Chassis#: 111.026.12.002445
Sold for USD$379,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 image  1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 image  

Mercedes-Benz 280s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet111.027.12.0029952024 Bonhams : The Quail Auction $400,000$475,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111.027.12.0040702024 RM Sothebys : Dare to Dream $250,000$325,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5L Cabriolet111027120001932023 Artcurial : Le Mans Classic $200,000$300,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet111027.12.0035242023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction $375,000$475,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe111026120039432022 Mecum : Monterey$80,000  
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111.027-12-0044732022 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques a Monaco $300,000$380,000
1971 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SE 3.5 CONVERTIBLE111027120029262021 Bonhams : Goodwood Festival of Speed $170,000$220,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet 2021 Mecum : Glendale$210,000  
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111.027.12.0014122021 Gooding : Geared Online : Scottsdale Auction $250,000$300,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111.027.12.0010422020 RM Sothebys : Open Roads, Fall $270,000$300,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe111.026.12.0039432020 RM Sothebys : Open Roads, North America $75,000$90,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe 2020 RM Sothebys : Driving Into Summer $80,000$100,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111.027.12.0027302020 RM Sothebys : Palm Beach Online $275,000$325,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe111026120043252020 RM Sothebys : Palm Beach Online $120,000$140,000
1971 MERCEDES 280 SE 3.5 2020 McCormick's Auction # 68$70,000  
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL 3.5 Limousine108058.10.0065112020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais $60,000$90,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee$300,000$375,000$425,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Sunroof Coupe111026120028062019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Riyadh Auction   
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE108067120031632019 Historics at Brooklands Motor Museum $25,000$30,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe111026120042722019 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale   
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111.027.12.0025772019 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island $275,000$350,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe111026.12.0041972019 Bonhams : Scottsdale Arizona $150,000$180,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 V8 Coupe111026220035502018 Silverstone Auctions : NEC Classic Motor Show   
1971 Mercedes Benz 280 SE 3.5 Sunroof Coupe 2018 Russo & Steele : Scottsdale   
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Saloon 2017 Shannons Melbourne Summer Classic   
1971 MERCEDES 280 SE 3.5 CABRIOLET 2017 McCormick's Auction # 63$320,000  
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet 2017 Auctions America : Auburn Fall $280,000$300,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111027120029212017 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Pacific Grove Auction $320,000$360,000
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé111026220020082017 Silverstone Classic   
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet111027120015892017 RM Sothebys : Santa Monica $240,000$280,000

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 vehicle thumbnail image  
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1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 vehicle thumbnail image  1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 vehicle thumbnail image  
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1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 vehicle thumbnail image  1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 vehicle thumbnail image  

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280

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