1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupe

Purchased by our vendor’s uncle around 18 years ago as the fourth recorded owner, this 220 SE has evidently been cherished and fettled with throughout its tenure with the vendor’s family, judging by the overall condition.

Having enjoyed the car on weekend journeys and taking it to various shows around the Emerald Isle, this long-term ownership 220 SE is now up for sale, giving one lucky bidder the fantastic opportunity to own one of these gorgeous German coupés in excellent usable shape.

By-and-large, the bodywork and paint on this 220 SE is in good order, and presents very well from afar. All of the chrome detailing appears to be present and correct, whilst there is no noted damage to any of the body panels or to the lights.

The chrome bumpers have the odd small ding here-and-there, along with some more pronounced marks as seen in photographs 132 and 162, among others. Elsewhere, there is the usual pitting and wear to the bumpers, window trims and other details, though this is commensurate with the car’s age.

Looking closer at the paintwork, whilst it all appears to be in decent shape, there are a number of patches of cracked, bubbling or touched-in paintwork which we’d suggest a fastidious owner would likely have addressed. The bodywork is generally straight throughout and our photographer noted that the doors line up nicely with no closing or opening issues, whilst the rest of the bodywork appears to have lovely, even panel gaps.

The sunroof looks to be in good shape, though there is a small tear forming around the edging on the offside. This, combined with the fact the sunroof was unable to be opened, may suggest a replacement would be the best course of action.

In contrast to the exterior which would appear to require plenty of TLC, the interior looks to be in wonderful condition and has evidently had plenty of attention lavished upon it.

The seats and door cards appear to have been trimmed at some point, and as such present fantastically with no rips, tears or damage visible. The seats themselves are also fantastically free of damage or deep creases, whilst the carpets also look to be in good order.

From what we can see, the wooden dash trim has worn well and displays only a light commensurate usage patina, as do the shifter, steering wheel and dashboard as a whole.

The inner door sills have some areas of - what appears to be - surface corrosion and dents, though these are documented in the gallery below for you to assess.

Our vendor reports no faults with any of the systems, gauges or electronics, and no faults with the interior as a whole other than the aforementioned sunroof issue.

In the vast engine bay, the 2.2-litre inline-six looks like it may be in need of some aesthetic attention, but we can’t see any signs of major oil or fluid leaks, nor any outwardly visible issues with the engine or ancillaries. The vendor reports the car runs and drives well, but our photographer noted a slight misfire or timing issue during the photoshoot that may need attention.

Looking deeper, there are a few patches of corrosion and heavy wear around the edges of the engine bay and on the radiator, though these do not appear to be too concerning from a visual standpoint - we haven’t inspected the car ourselves as it is in Ireland with the seller, but we’ve not been told of any corrosion-related problems.

Underneath, the chassis has evidently been used and enjoyed, and shows signs of having previously been partially sealed or treated. The exposed areas such as the suspension components and exhaust appear to have bore the brunt of the elements and are covered in the usual surface ‘bloom’ but our photographer did a fantastic job of capturing plenty of underside shots, enabling you to make your own judgments with regards to the car’s condition.

Our vendor states that currently only the vehicle’s registration documents and V5 showing three former keepers are present with the car, along with one set of keys. He has stated that he will try and dig out the rest of the paperwork, but is currently uncertain as to its location.

Ideal for cruising long distances in wonderful comfort, very few manufacturers were able to beat Mercedes-Benz at their game in Europe during the 1960s. These ‘fintail’ cars are becoming somewhat of a cult classic, thanks to their unique and desirable styling, comfortable driving characteristics and excellent build quality.

Given the condition of this example, we estimate a value in the region of €22,000 to €35,000, so be sure to bid well in order to have the chance of winning this stylish German coupé.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Limerick, Ireland. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.