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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
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 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 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 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 | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 280s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 111.027.12.002995 | 2024 Bonhams : The Quail Auction | $400,000 | $475,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 111.027.12.004070 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Dare to Dream | $250,000 | $325,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5L Cabriolet | 11102712000193 | 2023 Artcurial : Le Mans Classic | $200,000 | $300,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 111027.12.003524 | 2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction | $375,000 | $475,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe | 11102612003943 | 2022 Mecum : Monterey | $80,000 | ||
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 111.027-12-004473 | 2022 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques a Monaco | $300,000 | $380,000 | |
1971 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SE 3.5 CONVERTIBLE | 11102712002926 | 2021 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 Cabriolet | 111.027.12.001412 | 2021 Gooding : Geared Online : Scottsdale Auction | $250,000 | $300,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 111.027.12.001042 | 2020 RM Sothebys : Open Roads, Fall | $270,000 | $300,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe | 111.026.12.003943 | 2020 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 Cabriolet | 111.027.12.002730 | 2020 RM Sothebys : Palm Beach Online | $275,000 | $325,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe | 11102612004325 | 2020 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 Limousine | 108058.10.006511 | 2020 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 Coupe | 11102612002806 | 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Riyadh Auction | |||
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE | 10806712003163 | 2019 Historics at Brooklands Motor Museum | $25,000 | $30,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe | 11102612004272 | 2019 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale | |||
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 111.027.12.002577 | 2019 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | $275,000 | $350,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe | 111026.12.004197 | 2019 Bonhams : Scottsdale Arizona | $150,000 | $180,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 V8 Coupe | 11102622003550 | 2018 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 Cabriolet | 11102712002921 | 2017 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Pacific Grove Auction | $320,000 | $360,000 | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé | 11102622002008 | 2017 Silverstone Classic | |||
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 11102712001589 | 2017 RM Sothebys : Santa Monica | $240,000 | $280,000 |
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1971 Mercedes-Benz 280
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