Significance
Known by the internal chassis code W111, the Mercedes Benz 280SE Cabriolet represents what is potentially the pinnacle of Mercedes design and engineering in the classic era. Although nothing about the 280SE was all that groundbreaking, the quality of every single item in the car is second to none. Penned by French designer Paul Bracq, the 280SE coupe and cabriolet received a largely different rear-end design from the sedans, which hinted at what the follow-up W108/W109 chassis cars would look like a few years later. In production for nearly ten years, the W111 coupe and cabriolet remain a timeless design that would happily cruise all day on the Autobahn while surrounding the occupants in fantastic appointments.
About this vehicle
This 1969 Mercedes Benz 280SE Cabriolet is a beautiful example finished in a striking gray-blue color paired with a dark blue canvas convertible top. Although this Mercedes is not in concours condition, it presents exceptionally well for its age and would make an outstanding example for the owner looking to get out and drive. The double-stacked headlights and tall central grille create an instantly recognizable silhouette in the rearview mirror of other motorists, and the simple rear end is more akin to the contemporary “Pagoda” Mercedes SL than the S-Class sedan the W111 was based on. The large soft top folds into a space behind the rear seats and a soft cover encases the small portion left sticking up.
On the interior, dark blue leather covers the seats, dashboard, armrests and door cards, which look to once again be in exceptional condition given the car’s age. Settle into the bouncy yet supportive driver’s seat and a large 2-spoke steering wheel with inner horn-ring frames a gauge cluster consisting of a speedometer, tachometer, and central multi-gauge with water temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level readouts clearly on display. Optioned with the wooden dashboard, a beautiful slab of wood holds the original Becker Grand Prix radio and heater controls- while below the dashboard sits a desirable “Kühlmeister” auxiliary air conditioning unit that still blows nice and cool.
Powering the 280SE is a 2.8-liter inline-6 that is equipped with Bosch mechanical fuel injection. In period, this engine was rated for 160 horsepower, which, although it was no race car, was plenty to allow for effortless highway cruising. Offered with either a 4-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox, this example is fitted with the automatic, which is really the better choice for a large cruiser such as this. As the 280SE was a top-of-the-line luxury car at the time, features such as 4-wheel disc brakes and power steering were fitted and made for a supremely relaxing driving experience.
This 280SE Cabriolet is truly a classic you could use every day- or it would be a great compliment to a garage that already has a more performance-oriented vehicle on one side. With the rock-solid build quality, beautiful styling, and pleasant driving dynamics, it doesn’t matter where you take this car, it will always be the center of attention.
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