1962 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEC

The vehicle on offer is a 1962 coupé version of the legendary Mercedes-Benz luxury car. It was delivered new to the US, where it has spent most of its life before making its way to Europe and is fitted with the very reliable 2.2 litre straight-six engine. The automobile is presented in nice original and largely unrestored condition and has recently been serviced.

Our Mercedes-Benz is presented in the most elegant colour combination black (colour code 040) over red leather. It appears likely that the paint is at least partially original though this is difficult to verify. The chrome trim around the headlamps, windows, the majestic radiator grille as well as front and rear bumpers is in excellent condition with no rust or tarnish visible. The lights are all intact and the same can be said about the glass surfaces that appear to be without damages or major scratches of any sort. The black wheels are assorted with period correct Michelin radial tires that give the car the final touch. We like to see collectors carefully choosing the correct tire for their classic vehicle as it is a statement of attention to detail and very often a good indication of a caring owner. The tires were mounted in 2016 and should be good for another couple of years.

The inside of our 220 SEC is upholstered in red leather that matches beautifully with the black exterior. It is in overall very good condition and appears to be largely original, a testament to the quality of the material used by Mercedes in the 1960s. The carpets have been refabricated, but the owner confirms that the original set has been kept and is available. The beautiful wooden dashboard is in good nick and was refurbished by a specialist in 2016. All the buttons are intact and in their right place, and the vehicle is equipped with a factory optional A/C unit, which was resealed in 2016 and should work as it should. The original MPH speedometer has been replaced by a zeroed KMH unit when this vehicle was purchased by the seller in 2015. The white Bakelite steering wheel has some cracks on the outer ring. The door panels, finished in the same red leather as the seats, are in nice condition. An overall very pleasant interior.

The good news continues underneath, where it is clearly visible that the previous owners took good care of this example. The vehicle has seen regular service with various parts being replaced when needed, with the most obvious recent work done to the steering box, shock absorbers, differential and driveshaft. There is no oil leak from the gearbox, differential or engine and the floor panels as well as the exhaust line are free of rust.

The engine bay is just as clean as the underneath of the vehicle. The battery has recently been replaced, and the fact that it is a VARTA unit, just like it was originally specified on the build sheet, is probably no coincidence but another proof of the owner’s attention to detail…

A tool roll with Mercedes-Benz engraved spanners (though some appear to not be original to this car) as well as a spare wheel, can be found in the trunk of the vehicle.

Our Mercedes-Benz 220 SEC was delivered new to the USA on the 16th of May 1962. As confirmed by the build sheet, the car was painted black 040, the colour it is presented in today. It is thus a matching colours example. It had only very few owners in the USA before being imported by a Mercedes-Benz service shop to Hungary in 2000. The Budapest MB Service Shop then sold this example to a Hungarian enthusiast who would keep the car until October 2015, when it joined the seller’s collection in the Czech Republic. At this point, the car’s odometer read 16,500 miles. The owner then proceeded to replace its US-spec odometer with a version reading in KMH. The Mercedes was thoroughly checked and serviced and road-registered in the Czech Republic in November the same year. The current owner has sparingly used the vehicle, but reports that it starts and runs beautifully, even after an extended period of winter storage.

The 220 SEC is accompanied by an important set of period literature (including its service booklet) and recent invoices, a tool kit and some spare parts such as door hinges and rear lights.

The Mercedes-Benz W111 series has been a defining car for the automaker in terms of design, safety, and reliability. These vehicles were owned by successful businessmen, politicians and stars alike and are extremely usable even by today’s standards. The example on offer is in rare original condition and boasts a fantastic original colour combination. Having been recently serviced, and in very good mechanical order, it is ready to be enjoyed by its new owner.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Czechia. 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’.