1971 | Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3,5

A very special W111 3.5 Coupé – UK-supplied, right-hand drive, with only three owners from new.

The 3.5-litre W111 Coupés and Cabriolets represented the pinnacle of, and the last of the hand-built Mercedes. Developing from the 220SE, through to the 250, 280 and finally in 1969 significant reengineering saw the cars equipped with a 200 horsepower 3.5-litre V8 to provide the level of performance and smoothness required, particularly for the US market. It is these cars that are most desired today as they combine those impossibly glamorous looks with easily accessible performance.

With a price point that prohibited all but the wealthiest buyers, and a laborious build method, production numbers were always low with only 3270 eight-cylinder coupés produced worldwide. The right-hand drive market was inevitably a small share of that, and it is reported that only 245 were built for all RHD markets, a fraction of those coming to the UK. This was always a very rare car.

Supplied new by Normand of Mayfair, Park Lane to the Anthony Charles Roy Weir, the third Baron of Inverforth in February 1972. The 3.5 remained in the Weir’s ownership until 1981, whereas its second owner kept the car for nearly 40 years. It has been with a collector for the last five years.

The service book – still presented in the original documents box along with all other original books– shows regular returns to Normand for servicing throughout the 70s, before going into the care of Schmitt Motors well into the 21st century.

Finished in its extremely attractive original colours of 571 metallic red with contrasting black leather trim. It is equipped with floor-shift automatic, air conditioning, electric windows and a Becker Grand Prix stereo.

The current owner selected this example, enlisting the help of a Mercedes specialist, to find the nicest, most authentic right-drive 3.5 Coupé he could find. So, whilst it is inevitable that the exterior has had a repaint in the past, the car remains a fundamentally original, rather than a restored example, and therein lies its appeal. Long-term, careful ownership have resulted in a car that’s beautifully preserved, rather than a car that’s fallen into poor condition and had to be restored. The interior, very pleasingly, retains all its original leather, which has a wonderful smell and patina and is of far higher quality than the leather used on most retrims. Similarly, the wood remains original, and even the Normand of Mayfair plaque remains on the driver’s sill step.

Just serviced by a specialist and front and rear screens replaced with new rubber seals.

Registered as a historic vehicle and as such ULEZ, tax and MoT exempt.

Please note, the number plate shown on the pictures will be retained by the owner and the car will return to an age-related number plate.

In summary, one of the very few UK-supplied examples of these exquisite cars, in very attractive colours and retaining a high level of originality. Extremely low owners and superb provenance.