1964 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Coupe

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This is a car we sold over 11 years ago. the owner has enjoyed it. used it and upgrade it over the years and we bought it back a couple of weeks ago. It is a lovely 1964 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Coupe. UK RHD. Manual with Power Steering. finished in Dark Metallic Red with Black Leather interior. It just drove here to Kent from Ireland so you can assume everything is OK with it!

Mercedes-Benz took a bold step in 1960. phasing out the prestige 300 series that had been in production since 1951. The reason was as simple as rationalizing Mercedes-Benz production on platform chassis that had proven to be successful on the 220. The old 300's body-on-frame construction required separate assembly lines and increasingly under-utilized equipment to build old-fashioned frames. Production quantities had declined to only 603 in 1960 and 551 in 1961. Such volumes were not commercially viable. even in what was essentially an individually ordered semi-custom automobile.

The new 300SE was introduced in 1959 but production was delayed until early 1961. Built on the same 2. 50mm wheelbase as the 220SE. it used the well-proved single overhead camshaft 2. 96cc inline six with Bosch mechanical fuel injection and featured advanced mechanical features like four-wheel disc brakes and coil springs with load-compensating air suspension on the independent front suspension and single-pivot swing axle rear suspension. Interior appointments were lavish. in keeping with the positioning of the 300SE as the successor to the limited production first generation 300s.

In March 1962 Mercedes-Benz added a cabriolet and coupe to the 300SE's model range. two highly-prized examples of quality. performance and luxury. Produced in very limited numbers (only 3. 27 combined coupes and convertibles in six years' production) the 300SE was destined to have a very short life before they were superseded by the 280SE 3. 5 and 600.

Some sources have maintained that the 300SE Cabriolets and Coupes may have an additional advantage: engines assembled from components built for the 300SL and producing more than the stated 185 SAE horsepower. The engines were given different type numbers (M198 for the 300SL. M189 for the 300SE) but that doesn't preclude mixing some components in the interest of production economies and better performance.

In any event. the 300SE offered a stirring combination of luxury and performance along with technical specifications better than anything else of its era. This was the best thing Mercedes had in 1964 and was the top of the range offering. it still offers incredible comfort and power. The rare Manual Transmission adds to the desirability of this particular Coupe.

There are many invocies on file including new Starter motor. dynamo. a £6k bill to rebuild the Air Suspension amongst other things and regular servicing. The car has been in Ireland for the last 11 years and comes with Irish. as well as the UK Registration Papers. In fact the UK V5 shows only one owner since 1983. The interior is showing signs of wear and tear adn the body is very nice but not perfect. it is a great useable car you can work daily.

All in all a rare opprtunity to buy a genuine RHD 300SE Coupe for reasonable money. perhaps your last chance to add one to your collection.

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