1971 Mercedes-Benz W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe #2159

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe (W111)

136,140 miles

About the Mercedes-Benz W111 Coupe

The W111 Coupe is based on the Mercedes-Benz W111 platform that had launched two years earlier with the four-door Heckflosse – or ‘fintail’ saloon car. Penned by a team headed by chief design engineer Karl Wilfert, the distinctive Mercedes-Benz styling of the saloon featured American-esque rear tail fins, and a raft of safety features including designed-in crumple zones.

When it came to reinterpreting the saloon into an elegant coupe, it was Paul Bracq who was chosen for the task – the name that’s instantly recognisable as the man behind the Pagoda.

The Bracq design softened the edges of the W111 saloon, retaining the same wheelbase but losing the distinctive tail fins. The big two-door coupe offered ample space for four adults without compromising on style and luxury; setting the mould from which every S Class coupe since has been cast.

What we have in the W111 Coupe then is the great grandfather of the luxury Mercedes-Benz flagship, the first in a long line of beautifully designed and superbly appointed large two-door coupes that we now recognise as distinctly S Class. In 1965 the fintail design of the saloon was replaced when the W111 and W112 saloons made way for the the W108 and W109; however Mercedes-Benz decided to stay with the W111 Coupe instead of building a two-door on the new platform. The W111 Coupe would remain in production until 1971, eventually passing the ‘flagship four-seat coupe’ torch to the C107 SLC. As an ’S Class Coupe’ the W111 would not have a true successor until the W126 S Class two-door of 1981.

The Mercedes-Benz W111 Timeline

1961… Launched 2.2 litre M127 six-cylinder engine, badged as the 220SE.

1962… More powerful and more exclusive 300SE joins the range, using M189 3.0 litre with fuel injection

1965… 220SE replaced by 250SE, an all new M129 2.5 litre engine with 150hp. 0-60 time of 12 seconds

1967… 250SE replaced by 280SE, using the M130 2.8 litre engine with 160hp. Top speed remains the same but improved acceleration. Disc brakes now fitted to all four wheels.

1969… 280SE 3.5 arrives, using the 3.5 litre V8 M116 engine. Output jumps to 200hp and 0-60mph comes down to just 9.5s.

1971… The final W111 Coupe is built.

Paul Bracq had a magic touch when it comes to timeless design, and the popularity of the Pagoda is testament to the appeal of his delicate lines. With the larger W111 Coupe, Bracq captured something special with an elegance and a simplicity that exudes the luxury for which the car was known. These cars have always had a strong and loyal following, with both coupe and convertible versions never really out of the limelight.

In recent years we have seen a significant increase in interest across the W111 range, with the later 3.5 V8 models being the most sought after. With 200hp and that distinctive V8 sound, it is the overall aesthetic both inside and out that make these cars so popular. Driving a 280SE 3.5 gives a sense of occasion, these cars really are something special. From the way the walnut is carefully sculpted around the instruments, to the precise flex in the comfortable seats and the way these cars waft down the road, it isn’t hard to see why these cars command the premium that they do.

Finding a good quality W111 coupe or convertible has never been easy. The cost of maintaining these cars properly means one simply has to buy the right car – to fully restore a W111 coupe with all it’s chrome, complicated mechanisms and aged mechanicals would produce a not insignificant bill…Rectification of these cars is neither easy or cheap – some parts are virtually impossible to source, and a specific type of craftsmanship and understanding is needed to produce the exceptional results that these cars deserve. Finding and buying a good example is absolutely crucial, which leads us to our next section…

About this Mercedes-Benz W111 Coupe

So often with luxury cars of the 1960s and early 1970s we find long periods of either neglect or misuse. As a car becomes more expensive to drive and maintain it might languish in a shed, barn, storage unit or god forbid – outside; but the history file that accompanies this car paints a picture of a loved and adored vehicle that has been used consistently ever since the day it was built.

First registered in 1971, this Blue Metallic 280SE 3.5 must have been quite the sight on British roads in it’s day.

The earliest documents within the file date from 1977, when the car was just six years old. In January of that year the car had a service including brake pads at Bradshaw, Webb & Co. Specialists in Luxury Cars, presumably ready for a European trip in the months to come. We find a receipt from Euro-Garage Mercedes-Benz Concessionaire in Paris dated 7th September 1977, where the wiper motors were replaced and the heating valves unclogged and repositioned… the mileage is stated as 54,654. In February of 1978 we are back in England, with the car showing a 60,000 mile service at Mercedes-Benz on the Great West Road in Middlesex, with a total price of £247.64.

Further servicing and maintenance work takes place with Mercedes-Benz in Middlesex through 1978 until 1981, with Steve Redfearn taking over the maintenance in 1986 – the company that would then care for this car consistently for two decades.

Present with this car then is a truly exhaustive service history and maintenance file, the details of which we will only highlight here… there is another interesting tale that can be gleaned from the paper trail. On an Offer & Sons Coachbuilding invoice dated 22nd Feb 1980 there is evidence showing the fitment of an aftermarket electric sunroof, along with some other works. With a total bill of £3,055, the car left the coach builders with a metal sliding roof. 21 years later the then-owner of the car wrote to Mercedes-Benz to find out of this was available as a factory option, and received the reply that the sliding roof was not released with a W111 Coupe, which leads to the next interesting junction in the life of this fantastic car.

In 2016 it was subjected to a comprehensive restoration, at which point it was put back to it’s correct factory configuration with the removal of the retractable sunroof. The work was done by Steve Redfearn, and the photograph record that accompanies the car shows the high standard to which this car was restored. In excess of £40,000 was lavished on this car not less than 5 years ago to bring it to the condition in which it can be enjoyed today.

In more recent years this car has attended SLSHOP for additional fettling and improvement since the restoration. Just like when the car was in France back in 1977 SLSHOP have freed up the wiper mechanism and undertaken works to ensure all the heater ventilation and dials are working as they should. Some of the power steering pipes have been replaced, as well as adjustments to the windows to ensure proper operation.

The net result is a car that not only looks and drives exactly as it should, but that shows a lifetime of care and attention in exactly the right way by exactly the right people. This is a car that can be used and enjoyed, loved, showed and adored safe in the knowledge that it has a provenance and heritage that would be difficult to rival with even the very best W111 Coupes.

A superb example of the breed, in an excellent colour and all in impeccable order. From the burl wood to the calf leather interior to the finish of the paintwork, this is a beautiful car to behold.

This Mercedes-Benz has been hand-picked by SLSHOP’s sales team due to its high calibre status. Every inch of this vehicle’s exterior, interior and mechanicals have been inspected by SLSHOP’s workshops to ensure the vehicle meets our world leading standards. While every effort has been made to offer pristine vehicles, there will be some age-related marks, unless otherwise stated.

This Mercedes-Benz has been hand-picked by SLSHOP’s sales team due to its high calibre status. Every inch of this vehicle’s exterior, interior and mechanicals have been inspected by SLSHOP’s workshops to ensure the vehicle meets our world leading standards. While every effort has been made to offer pristine vehicles, there will be some age-related marks, unless otherwise stated.

We advise interested parties to join us for a coffee to peruse the documentation accompanying this vehicle. There are servicing records and invoices, MOT and tax records dating back many years and as such must be viewed in person.

MOT History
1977	55,461 miles
1979	65,124 miles
1981	69,694 miles
1982	74,104 miles
1986	78,549 miles
1987	81,515 miles
1988	86,030 miles
1989	89,007 miles
1991	93,755 miles
1992	95,101 miles
1994	96,078 miles
1996	100,315 miles
1998	102,080 miles
1999	102,400 miles
2000	102,721 miles
2004	101,299 miles
2006	114,048 miles
2007	117,095 miles
2008	120,377 miles
2009	124,575 miles
2012	127,383 miles
2017	135,215 miles
2020	136,205 miles