1966 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupe

This particularly wonderful example of the short-lived 250 SE was first registered on 01 September 1966, and according to the vendor and the long-standing history of the vehicle, this 250 SE lived a large proportion of its life in the picturesque town of Rye in East Sussex.

Having purchased the vehicle during August 2017 for the sum of £28,500.00 the plan was to rectify any known issues with the vehicle, which saw the previously resprayed body shell stripped back to the bare metal, due to the previous paintwork having trapped moisture underneath.

In addition to this, the opportunity was taken to cut out, weld and repair any rot which was found, including in the spare wheel well. With everything having been taken care of, the vehicle was then resprayed to an incredibly high standard in the original factory colour, resulting in the near-immaculate finish you see here.

Since then, this has been a very well-travelled example of the gorgeous 250 SE coupé, being used for trans-European expeditions to Spain along with trips to Wales as part of a classic car touring club. Clearly, the paintwork has transformed this example, as it won the award for "best looking car” on the journey.

It hasn’t all been perfect - the vehicle suffered a puncture during 2018, with all five tyres being replaced in May 2018 in San Sebastian.

Having formed a well-loved art of the vendor’s curated collection of classic cars, this 250 SE is now for sale due to the collection being downsized, along with the vendor’s wife preferring his Alvis TD21 Drophead!

As previously mentioned, the paintwork that the car currently wears with pride is not original, however, it is of the highest standard, and is in absolutely stunning condition throughout. The paintwork is lovely and rich, with only the most minor of stone chips to speak of.

The chrome has been partially replaced during the vendor’s ownership, however, areas such as the front and rear bumpers will need attending to once again due to surface corrosion, while the original chrome work on areas such as the window surrounds and the mirrors is in good condition, though it does display an age-related patina across the board.

All four wheels, along with their correct chrome beauty dishes, are in excellent order, with no kerbing or scuffs to speak of. With all five tyres having been replaced in 2018, it’s safe to say the new owner will have a few more years of happy motoring before they need replacing, and matching tyres is usually an excellent sign of a fastidious owner.

While there is no body damage to speak of, the offside rear light lens does have a crack in it, which can be seen in the gallery below.

Overall, while the exterior isn’t original, it is in excellent condition and will certainly draw a crowd wherever it goes.

In contrast to the exterior, the interior is in used but - believed to be - original condition, and despite showing its age in a few places, presents very well overall.

The front seats have a few rips in them, though they still hold their shape well and are supremely comfortable, as expected from a high-end Mercedes such as this. The rear seats, too, are in similar shape, and we’d personally have both the front and rear seats re-covered to match the quality of the exterior.

The wooden trim is in very good condition, though there are a few areas of lacquer peel dotted around the cabin. The stereo is the original item and was top-of-the-line in period, with the vendor having left a number of tapes ‘of the era’ in the vehicle for the new owner to enjoy.

Up top, the headliner is in very good shape and has no areas of sagging, though there are a few stains which should be easily removed with a thorough valet or steam cleaning. From what we could see, there are no faults with any of the switchgear, while the windows go up-and-down with ease and have recently benefitted from a full set of new window seals.

Having previously been stripped back to bare metal, any known areas of corrosion and rot have been addressed according to the vendor, which should certainly put any potential bidder’s minds at ease. If that isn’t good enough, the well-renowned marque specialist The SL Shop has conducted a thorough assessment of the vehicle at the cost of £495, and the resulting report is available for all to see below. Since this assessment was carried out, the vendor has slowly worked through the items that were noted in the report, ensuring the work was carried out to the highest standard in keeping with the rest of the vehicle’s condition.

Underneath the expansive bonnet sits the 2.5-litre M129 engine which looks to be in sound condition with a few patches of what appear to be surface corrosion scattered around the bay, though no doubt a detail-oriented new owner would spend a day or two detailing up the engine bay to bring it back to its best.

During our test drive, the vehicle started ‘on the button’ ran well and was happy to shift between gears, though this was just a short test drive and we have not personally used the vehicle beyond 30mph, however, this 250 SE was driven to us by the vendor, so it’s likely safe to say it’s mechanically sound.

The only faults we noted was that the speedometer would only work above 20mph, along with the fuel gauge reading fluctuating when the steering was on full-lock even at low speeds.

Below the body, the chassis looks to be solid and in good condition, with only the usual ‘bloom’ of corrosion on exposed elements such as the exhaust system.

On account of its age, this Mercedes-Benz is exempt from mandatory MOT testing, though a number have been carried out in recent years and the vendor states they see “no reason” why a fresh MOT certificate would not be awarded to this 250 SE.

If you’re a fan of some light bedtime reading, then you’ll love this history file. Rich and comprehensive, the stack of invoices in impressive to behold, and tells a story of just how fastidious the vendor really is.

Without a doubt, the highlight of the folder is an invoice totalling up to £14,841.25 in February of 2020, which was the result of a major general overhaul to the brakes, gearbox and underside at the hands of The SL Shop. In addition to this, there are numerous other four-figure invoices pertaining to overhaul work by Rees Bros to the tune of £11,117 and other large invoices from Skinners of Rye for work to the windows, among other items.

In addition to the documentation, there are also numerous photos of the restoration process, historical invoices and receipts, old MOT certificates, the original handbooks and service book and even the vendor’s receipt from when the vehicle was purchased.

The vendor notes that the vehicle is currently fitted with an active Kenesis tracker unit, which can be transferred to or removed by the new owner depending on their preference.

Even today, this gargantuan German beauty commands incredible road presence wherever it goes, but be sure to check out the parking situation at your destination ahead of time!

Presenting in outstanding external condition and needing some sympathetic but purely cosmetic work to the interior, this 1966 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Coupé benefits from extensive restoration work and the timeless fascination of a pillar-less body style, meaning no matter where you take it, it will always be the coolest car at any event.

Running, driving and in rude mechanical health with a proven track record of long-distance journeys, this 250 SE is one of the rarest - and arguably, most beautiful - production vehicles ever to have been blessed with the Mercedes-Benz badge, and would make a stunning addition to any collection of cars. Our estimation is £29,000 - £40,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.