1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Lot 151 | The Amelia Auction 2025 Friday, 07 March 2025
Chassis No. 111.027.12.001167
Engine No. 116.980.12.000932
The Mercedes-Benz 111 and 112 series convertibles, produced between 1961 and 1971, stand as luxury icons, not just for their cutting-edge engineering, but also for their timeless design. The pinnacle among them was the rare 280 SE 3.5. Offered for just two years in 1970 and 1971, it marked a significant shift in evolving consumer preferences for more power and luxurious amenities.
Powered by a refined 3.5-liter V8 engine delivering 200 horsepower, this model brought a new level of performance to the series while maintaining the comfort and elegance expected from any car featuring the three-pointed star. The 280 SE 3.5 was visually enhanced over the standard 280 SE featuring a wider radiator grille, a lower hood, and modified bumpers with rubber strips. In July 1971, when the final 3.5 was completed, it marked the end of the “hand-built” era at Mercedes-Benz and it would be a further two decades before another four-seat convertible was built in Stuttgart.
The Data Card for this 1971 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet—just one of 1,232 produced worldwide—records that it was destined for the U.S. market when new. The original metal ownership plate shows the car was sold new in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 December 1970, surely making for a joyous end of the year! Finished in Red Metallic (571) over a Black leather interior (241) with Macassar ebony wood trim, this well-appointed model was optioned with a floor-shifted automatic transmission, Becker Europa radio, Behr air conditioning, power windows, heat insulating glass, white wall tires, and dealer-installed Kangol seat belts. The accompanying service booklet features regular stampings by Loeber Motors of Chicago through 1994 and 77,000 miles and is believed to have been retained by the original owner for over 40 years until 2016.
Today, this 1971 280 SE 3.5 remains a beloved example of the highly sought-after Cabriolet. Previous research indicates that the car was refinished in its originally specified Red Metallic paint, a common occurrence for many cars with this early metallic paintwork, but still retains a largely original interior, glass, and convertible soft top. Representing the finest personal luxury car offered by Mercedes-Benz when new, the 280 SE 3.5 was beloved by two owners for over 50 years of its life for its innovative engineering, elegant style, and unassailable build quality. These same traits continue to make it a compelling choice and an enduring classic more than half a century later.