1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5

This UK-supplied, right-hand drive example of the ever-popular V8-powered W108 four-door saloon is finished in Moss Green Metallic. The interior is trimmed in Magnolia MB-Tex fabric piped in green, and the car benefits from a partial restoration to its bodywork along with a bottom-end rebuild and a new torque convertor.

With 200bhp at its disposal, this four-speed automatic 280SE is capable of a sub-ten seconds sprint to 60mph on its way to a top speed of almost 130mph.

Still showing just 82,588 miles on the odometer and as beautifully engineered as it is elegant, this is your chance to get your hands on a classic Mercedes-Benz saloon from the German firm’s glory years.

We believe the Mercedes benefits from a partial bodywork restoration, which was undertaken during the previous owner’s 12-year tenure. Now looking resplendent in its Moss Green Metallic paintwork, the panel alignment is excellent and the 280SE still has some impressively consistent and tight shutlines.

It’s also free of damage and while there might be the odd spot of surface corrosion on the underside (which could be caught, treated and sealed very easily), the coachwork is very good indeed.

The chromework, of which there is plenty, is all good, too. We especially admire the radiator grille, which is straight and true and undamaged by half a century’s-worth of road debris being hurled at it.

The lamp lenses, window glazing, windscreen, and badges all look as well-maintained and everywhere else.

That said, there are a few areas that would repay further investigation such as the boot lid (#88), rear nearside and offside sills (#127 and #156), and the boot floor.

Cosmetically, some of the minor pieces of chrome trim are crazed and scratched (e.g. #110), the rear screen rubber trim is perished (#113), and there’s a small dink in the metal and chrome trim on the nearside rear door (#120).

The interior is as elegant as it is simple – and if you think we’re damning with faint praise here then nothing could be further from the truth as it is utterly gorgeous; with Magnolia MB-Tex seats and door cards piped in green, lashings of wood, and hefty chrome controls, this it showcases M-B’s legendary durability to fine effect.

Take the seats, for example. Finished in the firm’s proprietary fabric, the seats are still firm and comfortable and show only very slight softening to the outer edges of the driver’s seat.

More importantly, they’re free of rips, tears, and other damage both in the front and in the back.

The carpets are in great shape, as are the door cards. Even the top of the dashboard, an area that’s prone to cracking as it ages, is good.

Oh, and the spare wheel is fitted with a brand new Vitour Galaxy whitewall tyre that matches the four that are fitted to the road wheels.

This is a car that reeks of careful curation and solid German engineering and the only flaws we can see that the new owner might like to address is a small tear to the headlining (#149) and the boot, which isn’t trimmed to the same standard as the rest of the interior.

December 2019 saw the Mercedes’ brake calipers rebuilt and then refitted with new pads all round and a set of new discs on the rear axle.

The bottom end of the engine was rebuilt three years prior to that with new pistons rings, guides, bolts, gaskets, and chains. As the video shows, it starts well, ticks over and revs as it should, and shows good oil pressure.

There are also plenty of old invoices for parts and servicing prior to that: Please see the attached photos for details.

The underside looks strong but there is some limited surface corrosion that needs sorting out as soon as possible to prevent what looks to be a small issue turning into a larger problem.

NB: The gearbox has a problem in that the car has to be revved before the gearbox will engage and it is then sluggish when changing gear. The owner tells us that he’s baffled by this as he had the torque convertor replaced only recently.

The 280SE comes with its original build sheet, owner’s manual, and a thick wad of old MoT certificates. It also has plenty of invoices on file, plus some expired tax discs.

The Mercedes doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

Mercedes-Benz’s reputation for effortless elegance and superlative engineering might have taken a bit of a hammering in recent decades but cars like this, the legendary W108 saloon, show why they were so revered before the accountants took over.

Dial in a mighty 3.5-litre V8 engine and one of the nicest colour palettes of them all and we can see this one if going to attract an awful lot of attention among our more discerning followers.

And yet, beautiful condition aside, the need for some investigation into the automatic gearbox must be reflected in the guide price, which stands at just

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £15,000 to £20,000 in auction.

Sure, it’s a bit of a gamble but there are few marques we have more faith in than this and there are plenty of folk out there willing and able to lend a hand to get it driving perfectly again.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.