1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Convertible

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter for News and Instant Stock Alerts. Please visit www. godinbanks. com for 25 photos and a large description of each car.

This is a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3. 5 Convertible. Left hand Drive. Black exterior and interior. The price is not a mistake. this car was expertly converted from a genuine 3. 5 Litre Coupe to exacting standards.

At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1969. Mercedes-Benz launched the 3. 5 litre V8 engine to fill a gap in their range. and fitted it to the existing 300. renaming it the 300SEL 3. 5. It was also available in both fixed head coupe and cabriolet two door body styles using the extremely handsome W111 type 280SE body shell.

The new model was distinguishable from its six cylinder predecessors by a lower and wider radiator grille necessary to accommodate the larger V8 motor. which fortuitously greatly improved the style of the frontal aspect.

Otherwise. these 280SE 3. 5 models were identical in appearance to the earlier cars with exposed twin headlights. rounded rather than the earlier finned rear wings. and two inches extra width compared to the 220 and 300 saloons of the early 1960's.

Underneath there was all-independent suspension and disc brakes front and rear. while the fuel injected 3. 99 engine. producing an impressive 200 bhp at 5. 00 rpm and 211 lb/ft at 4. 00 rpm. was mated to either manual or automatic transmission. Whichever was chosen. performance was impressive. the V8 propelling the 280SE 3. 5 to a 120 mph plus top speed with 0-60 mph reached in under 10 seconds.

This 1970 Mercedes 280 SE 3. 5 cabriolet is finished in gleaming black coachwork with a complementary black interior and black soft top. Subject to a restoration just 12. 00 miles ago; we are informed by the previous owner it was converted from a genuine 3. 5 coupe in the USA by a Mercedes technician. At this time. the car was painted. and received new chrome. wood and interior trim.

This 280 SE 3. 5 also benefits from an upgraded electric soft top. factory air-conditioning. electric windows. and an automatic gearbox and has recently had circa £7. 00 spent mechanically recomissioning by marque specialist Steve Redfearn in London.

FYY573H appeared in a recent Classic Car magazine feature. where they stated that it is 'a few points down from concourse' high praise indeed. and they give it a very high 8 out of 10 stars for value.

An original convertible in this condition sells for circa £170k. bearing this in mind. this car is priced realistically. just above the value of a comparable coupe. Therefore. it offers its new owner the looks and feel at a fraction of the cost of an original. A rare opportunity and not to be missed.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

Want to buy this car?