First owned by the late Peter Sellers
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE Cabriolet

• Original logbook in Peter Sellers' name
• Known ownership history
• Automatic transmission
• Present ownership since 2004
• Formerly on display at Mercedes-Benz World
• The first right-hand drive example produced

"Hidden beneath the beautiful exterior of every Mercedes is the most advanced automobile engineering to be found anywhere in the world. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SE Convertible is a case in point. Symbolising luxury, power and the ultimate in sophistication, it is a car that has few equals for elegance and superb styling... for sheer technical perfection it is in a class of its own. A thoroughbred in appearance, a tiger in performance, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE Convertible stands alone. Like every Mercedes-Benz it possesses an air of distinction and quality that reflects the unique personality of its fortunate owner." - Mercedes-Benz.

Although Mercedes-Benz's S-Class saloons - first seen at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1965 - used the so-called 'New Generation' bodyshell, the Coupé and Cabriolet kept the timelessly elegant coachwork that had debuted back in 1959 on the 220 SE and, as befitted top-of-the-range luxury models, came equipped with air conditioning, electric windows and stereo radio as standard. The 300 SE employed a fuel-injected version of Mercedes-Benz's new, overhead-camshaft, seven-bearing 'six' displacing 2,996cc and developing 170bhp (DIN) at 5,400rpm. There was a choice of four-speed manual or automatic transmissions, while the rear suspension featured Mercedes-Benz's hydro-pneumatic self-levelling system. Thus equipped, the 300 SE was good for 120mph, with 60mph reachable in 12 seconds. Today all examples of these classic Coupés and Cabriolets are highly sought after.

Finished in Old English White, and retaining its original contrasting red leather interior, this beautiful example of Mercedes-Benz's luxury flagship was first owned by the late Peter Sellers, founding member of The Goons and one of Britain's greatest comic actors. Sellers was a prolific collector of motor cars – it is estimated that he owned more than 120 during his lifetime – and all were in some way special. Sellers ordered this Mercedes off the importer's stand at the 1962 Earls Court Motor Show. The car was retailed via Woking Motors Ltd, and a copy of the cheque Sellers wrote to purchase it is on file. The first right-hand drive example produced, the Mercedes was first registered, as '1105 PK', on 9th November 1962. The original buff logbook is on file also, listing Sellers as first private owner and signed by him. One Horace Walter Cutler of Middlesex is recorded as the next owner (from 1963 to 1973), while other documentation on file indicates subsequent ownership as follows:

Mr Richard Perrins (1973 onwards)
Mr P Semon
Mr Tony Collins
Mr Julian Trim (1989 - 2001)
Mr John Fitzgerald (2001 - 2004)

Our vendor has owned the Mercedes since 2004. More recently '1105 PK' was on display from 2008 for approximately six years at Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey alongside a photograph of Peter Sellers polishing the Mercedes star (see file). Since retrieving the Mercedes it has been kept in the garage of the vendor, a former Mercedes-Benz engineer.

As well as the foregoing, the history file contains invoices totalling almost £16,000 for work done during the 1970s, mostly by Normand in Mayfair or EJS Autos in Essex. In 2002 £13,000 was spent on further restoration work. There are also MoT certificates (some, not all) dating back to 1976 plus other information relating to the time that Peter Sellers owned the Mercedes. Correspondence includes arrangements that were made at the time of purchase and subsequent correspondence with fellow Goon Harry Secombe, one of Sellers' closest friends, who remembers how proud Sellers was of the car during his ownership. There are also magazine articles about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and '1105 PK' in particular, plus a couple of owner's manuals and other original Mercedes booklets relating to the 300 SE. A wonderful opportunity to own one of Mercedes' most iconic models of the 1960s, boasting impeccable celebrity provenance and being the first ever produced in right-hand drive, body number 00001.