1973 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE

Our 280 SE was one of the last produced and was first registered at the beginning of 1973. It was sold in another right-hand drive market, South Africa, where it remained until 2016 when it was imported into the UK.

Our seller, an avid car collector, purchased the car soon after from a dealer in Bournemouth, having seen it advertised in Car and Classic Magazine. The fact the car had spent its whole life in the dry African climate was undoubtedly one of the main attractions.

He has used the car sparingly, covering a mere 500 miles or so. The car has always been dry stored when not in use and even when left for extensive periods, we are told it always fired up first time.

He reports that the 280 SE drives really well, the automatic gearbox changing smoothly and undoubtedly suiting the car’s character. This is a car to waft in, though should you feel the need to press on, there is a plentiful reserve of power.

With lack of use, our seller has decided the time is now right to let someone else enjoy this fine old lady.

This is an imposing car, the white paint undoubtedly making it look even bigger than ever. White paint tends to stand the test of time rather well, so there is a possibility that it may be the factory finish. We will leave that for you to decide.

The finish is generally quite presentable but look closely and there are some areas that could be improved. The paint finish under the rear bumper is poor in places and there are signs of rust starting to show through. The paint is also chipped around the front passenger door handle.

There’s a lot of chrome on this car and it is just as well that it all seems to be in reasonable condition. We would stock up on chrome cleaner though.

Period correct hub caps are fitted, but there are signs of corrosion on them in places. A little refurbishment required. Tyres have ample tread but are of unknown age and we would be inclined to splash out on some new ones.

An interesting feature is the concealed fuel filler cap, which left our seller a little foxed when he first came to fill up. It hides behind the rear number plate, which is hinged to allow access.

In striking contrast to the rather plain white exterior, the interior is finished in a rather striking red. The seats have undoubtedly been recovered fairly recently as they look like new. Comfort is guaranteed whether riding up front or luxuriating in the rear.

We suspect the car may well have left the factory with a slightly more sombre interior, black would be our guess.

The wood dash looks a little tired and perhaps could do with a repolish and we would be tempted to source a radio more in keeping with the period.

The rather large steering wheel tends to rather dominate the driving experience and a short reach down lurks that rather familiar automatic gear lever. It is all very straightforward.

The trim around the door surrounds is somewhat tired in places and the headlining is a little grubby.

The boot is of generous proportions and provides space for the full-size spare wheel, tools etc. The rubber boot seal is old and some of the compartment itself could certainly do with a refresh. It all looks just a little bit old…

The paintwork in the engine compartment is somewhat tired in places and there are signs of some surface corrosion which wants some attention. A good steam clean would not go amiss either.

The fuel injected engine would have been sufficient to propel the Mercedes from 0 to 60mph in around ten seconds, none too shabby considering the size and weight of the car. Top speed was quoted at a shade under 120mph, ideal for a bit of autobahn cruising.

Sadly, we cannot tell you anything about the car’s life in South Africa as there is no paper trail.

Looking through the car’s MoT history, we can see that there were some issues raised during the car’s early days in the UK, but as they do not reoccur, they were obviously properly dealt with.

The last MoT expired in May 2019, the car of course now being registered as an historic vehicle.

Our seller has changed the oil and plugs during his ownership but having used the car so little and it proving to be completely reliable, he has never had need to do anything else. A testament to Mercedes-Benz’s excellent build quality perhaps.

We have thus far refrained from mentioning one of the main attractions of this lovely Mercedes and that is of course its suitability for use as a wedding car. Just a thought…

This is an eminently usable classic car, easy to drive and spacious too for four or five people plus luggage.

There are a few minor cosmetic issues we would want to address and if the car is to be used all year round, we would make sure the car is professionally undersealed to preserve its lovely condition.

All this Teutonic goodness does come at a price. Around £13,000 to £17,000 we reckon.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.