1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Delivered when new in Milan, Italy - Gray Market
Importation to the U.S.A. in 1986
Less than 50,000 Original Miles / 80,000 Original Kilometers documented
from new
Rare Factory 4-Speed Manual Car - Early Production (#105) - Numbers Matching
Finished in Mercedes-Benz DB904 Midnight Blue
and featuring its rare original, yes, original Cognac leather interior,
this 3.5 Coupe has lived a very gentle life since being sold to its first
owner, a real estate company in Milan, Italy in the summer of 1970. Documents
with the car detail some early service history during the 1970s and early
1980s. Per accompanying documentation, they kept the car until it left for
the U.S.A.
Contrary to popular belief, W111 and W112 coupes
and 300SEL 6.3s came with round headlamps in European markets, not the fishbowl
style lamps of the standard cars. This car did get lighted side markers
during federalization but no other changes were made. The car retains its
European turnsignals in the outer portion of the headlamp surrounds.
Per the body tag, the car was originally finished
in DB836 Moss Green Metallic but the color was expertly and professionally
changed a long time ago; there's little to no trace of the original color.
I suspect that it was done very early in the car's life as it extends into
every door jamb, under the hood et.c.
In 1986, the car was imported by a private person
on his one-time exemption and on arrival, it landed in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
One piece of US government paper from this importation remains with the
car. At this time, the car had a documented kilometer reading around 50,000.
This man used the car sparingly and after a little over than ten years sold
it to some friends of his in Ann Arbor. A service record from about 15 years
ago shows the car in their name with the kilometers then in the low 70,000s.
They sold the car sometime prior to 2005 when a Wisconsin owner pops up
in the service history. This man sold it to the gentleman I purchased it
from in 2006. Records document throughout a slow progression to the kilometers
shown now on the odometer and I have added another 200 or so as it is quite
enjoyable to drive.
While the car presently rides on a set of sharp
MB Bundt alloys with redline radials, it also comes with its original steel
rims and full wheelcovers with an older set of narrow band whitewall radials.
A previous owner preferred this look.
This is a very straight and generally very solid
example of a 3.5 Coupe!
In the last number of years and within the last
10,000 kilometers (6,000 miles) the car has been the recipient of a very
large amount of work; briefly to include fuel pump and fuel tank (still
wearing the MB parts sticker on the filler neck), flex disc coupling on
the driveshaft, front brake pads and rotors, brake master cylinder, a major
service and tune-up, a front suspension overhaul with Bilstein shocks, kingpins,
tie rods, control arm bushings and a rear compensator. The front suspension
overhaul is really evident as the car steers and tracks perfectly with no
slop in the steering as is common with older Mercedes.
I also translated (poorly) the original Italian
records with the car and can send a text file along with this abbreviated
translation. It's just interesting...
See the sticker on the rear window?
The original dealer sticker. And as long as
we're at this...
The remnant of the original "Ausland"
sticker on the center of the windshield...
...as well as the original antifreeze sticker
on the windshield and the original etching beneath.
Now, let's take a look in the trunk!
The original Mercedes trunk mat has a few small
cracks here and there but is very tidy. The original jack, lug wrench and
Phoenix Firestone spare tire remain with the car.
Note the original owner's manual pouch, service
book, guarantee book, European service directory, an English language owner's
manual, Italian documents and early service history, a USDOT import document
and service records from the past 10+ years.
You no doubt noticed the Italian tags on the
car front and rear. When we got the car, we were fortunate enough to get
the original plate frame, but no tags. Luckily, we were able to get faithful
reproductions and put them back in their place. As you can see written on
the service book (and I found elsewhere in the records) this is the car's
original license number.
A fantastic looking car from any angle!
Now, let's have a look inside.
Save for the wood which was redone by Madera
Concepts in California in the last few years, the entirety of the interior
is original - leather, vinyl, carpet and small stainless and chrome trim.
The Cocomats appear to be quite old and have protected the original Cognac
mats which are near perfect.
Just 44 years of patina here, all the seats
are lovely.
The entirety of the dashboard and windshield
surround wood was redone as mentioned. It is breathtaking. The steering
wheel has no cracks as you can see here.
Note the perfect hot idle and oil pressure in
this shot. The red light is for the parking brake which is on in this photo.
The speedometer is incredible, immaculate, like
the rest of the instruments. The tripodometer works, I just haven't bothered
to reset it. I've put about 250 km on the car in the last month or so. The
KMs may increase slightly during the course of the auction - I might take
it to Cars & Coffee or something one last time...
Fron the passenger's side.
Even the W111 and 6.3-only clock works, I don't
think it's been converted to quartz. Likewise, the heater levers and blower
work well too, the heat will chase you out.
Fascinating, isn't it - a 4-speed V-8 Mercedes
gentleman's express... and yes, the power windows are aftermarket Italian,
the switches read "TORINO". The rear windows are still crank.
All work as they should.
Like the driver's door, the passenger door is
no less impressive. The amazing amount of chrome on the sill plates, on
the door in the jamb, even over the seat rail is exclusive by this point
to the W111 and I suppose the 600 - a 300SEL 6.3 wasn't even this nicely
'endowed'.
Passenger's seat is no less impressive.
In the back, likely rarely used, I found a few
1980s quarters but no millions of Lira when I pulled it out to clean up.
I also found a little tag still affixed to the carpet beneath the rear seat
from when the car was built as well as a small scrap of the original upholstery.
It's quite possible that the back seat was never out of the car before.
You're likely asking yourself where the speakers
are for the radio - they're not in the perfect Cognac rear parcel shelf
which has never been cut for speakers but in removable boxes that sit in
the rear footwells so you can listen to the radio or a CD. The rear belts
were added later as they are dated 1972; I am not sure about the fronts
but I cannot confirm that the car was delivered new with 3 point belts for
the Italian market. These would have been required during Federalization.
The headliner is original and perfect. The light
spot to the left is a reflection of the dome lamp off of the sunvisor.
The import sticker is missing the first 1 of
the VIN - this however appears on the original VIN tag and matches the title.
Yes, I removed the name of the importer from this photo as he is still alive
and well.
The original VIN plate on the radiator cowl.
The decode for the manual transmission is the 0 in the 8th position - 2
is automatic.
The original body tag.
Here's one for the history buffs - the M116
engine was Mercedes' first small-displacement V-8 and was produced into
the 1990s (I just sold one of the last M116 powered cars, a 1991 420SEL).
This is M116 number 46!
Here's the documentation that the numbers match
- this is a page from the service book filled out in 1970.
The original engine compartment presents well
for an unrestored car, it is clean with evidence of the service documented
in the paperwork. In addition to documented work, the auxiliary air valve
and various hoses appear to have been replaced (unless they are on one of
the invoices that is blurred). The work to the fuel injection documented
on one of the early Italian tickets is still evident.
The car also has a Crane XR-700 electronic ignition
that replaced the points and a Bosch Blue Coil.
When the car came in, I made a few small adjustments,
tightened the lower locknuts on the right front shock absorber (not sure
why they were loose) and replaced the radiator cap, shifter bushings at
the transmission linkage and the center exhaust hanger. That's really all
I could find to do. It leaks nothing short of light seepage, the rear axle,
transmission and engine oils were all full as was the brake fluid and power
steering fluid. I was amazed and even more so when I first took it out on
the road.
In short, just a very complete, correct and original Mercedes V-8 that drives
just as well as it looks!
Our reserve is very reasonable against the current marketplace
- here's why:
Just weeks ago in mid-January, a pristine original white 1971 280SE 3.5
US spec example with just over 42,000 original miles sold
for over $178,000 including buyer's premium at Gooding & Company's
Scottsdale auction. The day before, a 542 Dark Red US spec 1971 280SE 3.5
in driver condition and with undocumented mileage of just over 51,000 sold
for $70,400 inclusive at Barrett-Jackson Westworld. I was out there
during the auctions, looked at both cars personally out of curiousity and
neither were significantly more exciting to me than the car above.
Obviously these were both US cars with automatic
transmissions, air conditioning and power-robbing emissions controls.
Is a Euro-spec 3.5 with a 4-speed manual worth
more? As a driving enthusiast, it is to me.
One thing is for sure, however - these are no
longer sub-$50,000 cars.
payment/shipping
While physically located in Richmond, VA, this
automobile is being sold under the license of a Licensed Independent Used
Car Dealership in the State of Pennsylvania. There are many complications
in dealing with the sale of used automobiles, even special interest and
collector cars such as this phenomenal Mercedes-Benz. Through my affiliation
with International Motor Cars of Pittsburgh, Ltd. and my Salesman's license
on file therein, I am privileged to be able to offer cars such as this to
discerning collectors. At the time of purchase, I will arrange for you to
complete your paperwork with Steve and Amanda by phone or in person in Export,
PA. Pennsylvania residents (apart from those in possession of a motor vehicle
dealer license) will pay all applicable taxes and documentary fees and may
be required to complete the transaction in person at International Motor
Cars of Pittsburgh, Ltd, located at 5882 Kennedy Ave, Export, PA. Please
understand that this is a 44 year old car and is sold as-is, where-is with
no implied or stated warranty or guarantee.
Full payment is due within seven days of auction
close unless
discussed with me in advance of your bid. Accepted forms of payment
include a cleared certified cheque or wire transfer in my or the dealership's
bank account. Pennsylvania residents MUST pay sales tax to the dealership
in addition to your purchase price just as you would to the tag office or
any other automobile dealer. We require that paperwork be completed prior
to pickup in any case. We do not charge tax to out of state (PA, not VA)
buyers as this is something you handle at the DMV or, naturally, other dealers
in all 50 states.
Shipping or pickup must occur within fourteen
days of auction close unless
discussed with me in advance of your bid. We are happy to refer you
to one of the high-quality enclosed collector car shipping companies that
I use frequently and we cannot stress enough the importance of using such
a carrier and not a random open transport broker or carrier you might find
online. For international buyers, I am happy to bring the car in my enclosed
trailer to the ports of Norfolk or Baltimore at a nominal charge, though
shipping beyond the U.S. border must be arranged for and paid by you. Contact
me if you need any assistance.
We reserve the right to cancel all bids and
end the auction early at any time during the course of the sale should a
sale occur outside of eBay as the car has been offered quietly through other
channels over the past month. I typically do not do this at all and only
when full payment has been received will the auction be pulled. You may
rest assured that if and when the reserve price is met, the auction will
run to the end, period.
Any legal action associated with this sale from
either the buyer or the seller is to take place in the State of Pennsylvania
in the Westmoreland County Courthouse. The bidder/buyer further agrees that
any legal action will be heard in Westmoreland County in the State of Pennsylvania.
All legal actions associated with this auction/sale will be governed by
the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and buyer agrees to be responsible
for all legal costs including, but not limited to, court costs, expenses,
attorney fees, cost of process service, and all other costs associated with
the normal course of business.
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?
E-MAIL ME OR CALL +1.804.357.4926
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