1978 Mercedes-Benz 280SE

With just two previous registered keepers, ‘YFA 121S’ has been in the seller’s care since 2012. In those thirteen years, he’s taken his beloved Mercedes on long journeys to Spain, Italy and France, trips he says bring out the best in it: “it loves the open road”, he smiled “and drives beautifully. I’ve never had any problems with the engine. It’s been unstoppable.”

Which means this 280SE continues to fulfil the design brief, even after 45 years, which is not something we expect to be writing of the new S-Class in four decades…

Part of that, of course, it due to its curation, which has been impeccable. Read on for more but be warned; it’s being offered with no reserve, so if you’re easily led, best stop now because it’s an absolute sweetheart of a car.

Buchanan’s Motors of Camden resprayed the car in 2019, charging a five-figure sum for doing so. They fitted an offside front wing and a rear wheelarch while they were at it plus various bits of trim but, even so, you’d have every right to expect it to be a first-class job for money like that – and it is. 

As you’d anticipate given the S-Class’s legendary build quality, things like panel alignment and shutlines are still good, even after all this time. It’s an imposing old thing and the combination of the colour and fit ‘n’ finish give it a hewn-from-solid look we love.

The 14-inch steel wheels are fitted with decent hubcaps, and they’re shod with matching 185R14 Massimo Durevo V1 M&S tyres, all of which have good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for work to do, the sunroof leaks, so that will need your attention.

After you’ve done that, you might like to turn your attention to the front and rear bumpers, which are rusty. There are also some rust spots on the sills, bonnet, lower section of the driver’s door, and wheelarches.

If we’re being picky then the trailing edge of the driver’s door sits a little high, some of the side trim has come away, the front numberplate has seen better days, the wheel trims are a bit scuffed and marked around their circumference, there’s a mark and a small dent on the boot lid, and some lacquer loss on the nearside front wing.

The MB-Tex and cloth interior is very of-the-period and all the better for being so resolutely blue; after all, if you’re going to drive a car built in the 1970s you don’t want to do it half-heartedly, do you?

The seats are as firm and springy as we’ve come to expect of the German firm. Still wonderfully comfortable, you’ll also appreciate the support they give on the sort of all-day, continent-crossing journeys the S-Class is still capable of.

There is a little wear to the centre fabric section of the driver’s seat but only a little. A few stains on the seats too, but the outer edges, the bit that usually wears, are all still very good.

The carpets are only lightly worn too, and the headlining is in a decent condition even if it is a bit grubby.

The door cards and centre console are all good, as are the netting pockets on the back of the front seats. 

The wood trim is very good, being shiny and largely free of damage, and the controls and instruments are still bright and legible.

The boot is vast, and its carpets are decent. It’s home to the spare wheel and tool kit too, and lifting the carpets shows solid metal underneath although there is a little rust starting to break out on the perimeter and this could do with being caught before it gets any worse. 

We are told that everything works in there, but the seller did remind us that the central locking is pneumatic and takes a while to pump up, so perhaps there’s a small leak somewhere.

As for cosmetic flaws, there’s a large split in the vinyl covering on the top of the dashboard, the trim cover is missing from the driver’s seat hinge, there’s s small amount of damage hear the handbrake handle, and the wood trim above the ashtray has some horizontal cracks in the finish.

As you can see, it starts well and idles and revs as it should. It’s got great oil pressure too, and it accomplishes the whole lot without illuminating any warning lights, which is yet more good news.

As we mentioned earlier, the seller has used it for some long journeys across Europe and it’s never let him down, so that it performs this well for us probably isn’t a surprise.

The engine bay is, perhaps, the car’s weakest. It’s quite scruffy and has a lot of surface rust on its components. There’s some on the inner wings too, so we can see the new owner making this area a priority.

The 280SE’s service record is recorded as follows:

• 09.05.1978 and 652 miles – service by Drayton Continental Ltd.
• 02.11.1978 and 5,104 miles – service by Drayton Continental Ltd.
• 01.08.1979 and 8,875 miles – service by Drayton Continental Ltd.
• 03.11.1980 and 12,5832 miles – service by Drayton Continental Ltd.
• 22.07.1981 and 15,354 miles – service by Drayton Continental Ltd.
• 27.05.1982 and 18,903 miles – service by Drayton Continental Ltd.
• 03.10.1983 and 23,990 miles – service by Road Range Limited
• 19.03.1985 and 31,139 miles – service by Road Range Limited
• 06.08.1986 and 39,536 miles – service by Road Range Limited
• 16.11.1989 and 35,625 miles – service by Road Range Limited
• 23.03.1987 and 42,365 miles – service by Road Range Limited
• 16.05.1988 and 47,429 miles – service by Road Range Limited
• 16.09.1995 and (unknown) miles – service by Stanley Services
• 03.07.2013 and 74,095 miles – service by Buchanan’s Motors Ltd
• 19.11.2021 and (unknown) miles – service by Buchanan’s Motors Ltd
• 17.02.2022 and 76,768 miles – service by Buchanan’s Motors Ltd
• 17.11.2023 and 84,431 miles – service by Buchanan’s Motors Ltd plus four new tyres, a speedometer repair, rear brake pads, a front seat belt, and wheel alignment at a cost of more than two thousand pounds

The history file is as extensive as you could hope for, comprising a wealth of old invoices plus a handful of expired MoT certificates and 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.

Only for sale because the owner has just bought a farm and the Mercedes is too low to negotiate the track that leads to it, this is a rare opportunity to buy a good example of the car that started Mercedes-Benz’s dominance of the luxury car market.

With a significant recent expenditure, our guide price of between £8,000 and £12,000 seems like great value to us.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.