1964 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEB Coupe

This beautiful and desirable right-hand drive automatic UK-supplied 1964 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEB was registered on the 24th September, 1964. It has had six previous keepers, and it looks to have been the fourth keeper who carried out the extensive restoration between 2009 and 2011, coming in at the cost of around £20,000, which was spread over three specialist restoration companies in the UK, Germany and Poland. Since the restoration, the car looks to have been well-pampered and used very little when you look back at the MoT history, covering just over 2,500 miles since 2011.

Finished in Mercedes Medium Red with a Gloss Black roof, the paintwork is in excellent condition. There are a couple of tiny blemishes at the front of the wings, but in general, when you consider this was restored over 12 years ago, the work was clearly carried out to a high standard, and it has stood the test of time exceptionally well. There are no dings or dents to mention, and the shut lines are equal and matching across the doors, bonnet and boot.

As you would expect from the 60s styling, there is an enormous amount of chrome, which is all in excellent condition and shows minimal signs of age. There is a crack in the driver's side headlight, which the vendor is trying to replace before the auction ends if one can be sourced in time. The remaining front and rear lights are in good condition, with no splits or cracks, and the reflectors behind look to be in good condition.

The windows are all in excellent condition with no noticeable scratches to them, and the chrome frames for the side windows are also in good order. Some of the window seals show minor signs of perishing. The Mercedes shows its true beauty when the windows are rolled down, revealing the pillarless coupé look.

Originally the car came with 13” wheels. These have been upgraded to 14” and fitted with chrome hubcaps with a colour-matched centre, and a small amount of paint has come off on the painted section. The tyres are a set of matching Michelin Energy which are in like new condition, having not covered many miles.

If you've spotted the crack in the front headlight lens don't worry: since this photoshoot the vendor has bought and fitted a new glass lens, so it's now tip-top.

Inside the 220 SEB is a luxurious timewarp. The interior has been fully retrimmed in grey leather to an excellent standard, and both the front and rear seats are virtually like new, showing no wear. There has also been a set of inertia reel seatbelts fitted in the rear, which are a welcomed addition from a safety point of view. The door cards are finished in the same matching leather, with chrome furniture, which is also immaculate.

With a mix of leather, walnut and chrome for the dashboard, this presents exceptionally well. The instruments are said to be working correctly, with the odometer showing a reading of 8,823 miles. A period-looking Motorola head unit has been fitted, and according to the paperwork, the speakers were upgraded in 2012. All the switchgear looks in good order, with no signs of excessive wear to the lettering. The Ivory White steering wheel is considered the original and in excellent condition.

As you would expect looking at the rest of the interior, the carpets are superb, as is the headlining, which has no sagging. Inside the boot, the floor is clean and tidy, with no corrosion noted in the wheel well. The spare wheel is also in place.

Fitted with the 2.2-litre straight-six, the engine in the Mercedes was fully restored in Germany by a W111 and W112 specialist. This fires up without hesitation and sounds lovely, with no untoward noises coming from the engine bay. The bay has also not escaped attention to detail, having had the decals replaced, which are dotted about to look like a factory finish.

The column change automatic gearbox is in good order, and there are no issues reported with the 220 changing gear when going up or down the gears, and the brakes bring the car to a stop in a straight line.

On the road, the ride is smooth, as you would expect from a luxury German cruiser; no knocks or bangs are reported to come from the suspension.

Looking at the underside, the floor and chassis sections have been coated in stone guard to protect it from the elements. In addition, some work was carried out on part of the chassis and sills in 2018.

With the bodywork and interior restoration carried out by Lorenz Services, Poland, the car was then sent to Old Timer Garage in Germany for the engine rebuild, which included new bearings, pistons and piston rings totaling £5,000. This company also did some restoration work to the wooden trims and a lot of the re-chroming work and reassembly of the Mercedes.

There are several invoices showing how much work has been spent and parts purchased. There is also a complete list of parts purchased, but this is written in Polish; the vendor is trying to translate this to give a clearer picture of what has been done. Some previous MoT certificates are there; it can also be seen on the government website that the car has had several MoTs since the restoration.

The seller has pledged, although it doesn't require it, that it'll come with a fresh MoT, isn't that nice?!

The W111 was a stunning car at its launch in 1959, and just like a fine wine, it has got better with age; with its pillarless styling and masses of chrome, it looks fantastic from every angle.

This is a rare opportunity to own a W111 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEB that is an original UK car and has undergone a complete inside and out restoration, leaving it ready to be enjoyed.

We estimate this German classic will sell for between £35,000 - £40,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Prenton, Merseyside. To arrange an appointment to inspect this vehicle, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.