1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet

• Mercedes-Benz's flagship model
• Matching numbers (Chassis, Engine and Gearbox)
• Only two owners and 71,800 kilometres from new
• Unrestored and outstandingly original
• Fully documented from new; all invoices available


'Exclusive' is a much bandied-about word in the classic car world, but it is a most apt description of the Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5. Why? Because at $13,500 in 1970 its price was not only $3,500 more than that of the equivalent Mercedes-Benz saloon but also more than double that of a Cadillac Deville Coupé! Commonplace it was not.

The 3.5-litre version of the 280 SE typifies the resurgence of larger-engined Mercedes-Benz models that began in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the progressive easing of fiscal constraints, which had dissuaded customers from buying cars with large capacity engines, encouraged the German manufacturer to offer bigger, more potent power units. Thus the ultra-luxurious 280 SE Coupé/Cabriolet and 300 SEL saloon were the models chosen by Mercedes-Benz to launch its magnificent new 3.5-litre V8 engine in September 1969. An over-square design featuring a cast-iron block and aluminium-alloy cylinder heads, each equipped with a single overhead camshaft, this all-new, state-of-the-art power unit produced 200bhp courtesy of Bosch electronic fuel injection and transistorised ignition.

The new V8 engine had particularly smooth running characteristics and endowed the 280 SE 3.5s with performance superior to that of many out-and-out sports cars. Thus equipped, the Coupé/Cabriolet was good for 125mph (200km/h) with 60mph (97km/h) reachable in 9.5 seconds, a substantial improvement on the six-cylinder version's figures. As befitted top-of-the-range luxury models, the 280 SE 3.5 Coupé and Cabriolet came equipped with automatic transmission, power windows, and a stereo radio as standard.

Although the equivalent SEL saloon used the 'New Generation' bodyshell, the 280 SE Coupé and Cabriolet kept the elegant coachwork that had debuted back in 1960/1961 on the 220 SE. Nevertheless, there had been some refinements made: the radiator shell was lower and wider, with a correspondingly flatter front end to the bonnet, a characteristic that has led to enthusiasts referring to these face-lifted cars as 'flat radiator' models, while the bumpers were now fitted with rubber strips. Significantly, the 280 SE 3.5 was to be the final model featuring this long-established and much admired body style. It was truly Mercedes-Benz's flagship model, representing status, luxury, and reliability. Only 1,232 Cabriolets were built, and today these last-of-the-line classics are highly sought after by discerning Mercedes-Benz collectors.

Offered with every single piece of paperwork accumulated since it left the Stuttgart factory on 21st August 1970, together with its original instruction manuals, this is without question one of the most fully documented cars Bonhams Cars has ever seen, and prospective purchasers should not miss the opportunity to inspect its exceptionally comprehensive history. A European car from new, this Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet was delivered new to Hamburg and remained in that city until 2025, enjoying only thwo owners in all that time while covering a relatively low 71,800 kilometres, which are believed to be correct. There is a list of the owners on file. The accompanying Mercedes-Benz Ausstattung reveals that this car was originally finished in white with a light red leather interior, and that it left the factory equipped with individual seats, seatbelts, fog lamps, halogen lighting, and a dark blue convertible hood. The leather of the interior and the carpets are in original, unrestored and very good condition.

According to our vendor, the Mercedes is highly original, unmolested and believed to be accident-free - while benefiting from a new soft-top. Its most recent service was carried out in 2024 and the car is said to be 'on the button'.

A rare and powerful four-seat open tourer, in a delightful colour scheme, this top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet is one of the finest currently available.