Lot 738: 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Convertible

Daimler-Benz AG emerged from World War II a mere shadow of its prewar self. Its plants heavily damaged by Allied bombing, the maker of Mercedes-Benz automobiles could only manage to produce a single model, the prewar four-cylinder 170V; in 1946 a mere 214 were made. Two years later, however, production topped 5,000. By 1951 other body styles had been added and a six-cylinder car was reintroduced. The first postwar design was the 300, a large sedan, introduced at the Frankfurt show that April. This became known as the “Adenauer Mercedes” because the German Chancellor favored the model for his official transportation. Shorter 300S coupe and convertible models were added later in the year.

Although the gull-wing 300SL coupe of 1952 was the corporate trend-setter and Mercedes-Benz returned to Grand Prix racing in 1954, it was unit-bodied sedans that became the bread-and-butter models in the 1950s, and found a ready market as German taxis, often with diesel engines. Private owners, however, looked upscale and favored the 220 series cars, usually sedans but often the more attractive coupes and convertibles.

In 1959, the 220 series, named for its 2.2-liter displacement, received a new body with vertically-stacked headlamps. Called ‘fintail’ for its stubby rear fender fins, it remained in production through 1968. In 1965, a new W108 style, with new roof contour but lacking fins, was introduced in parallel with the fantail, and given a larger, 2496 cc version of the 220 engine, thus designated 250 series. In 1968, this became the 280 series with 2778 cc overhead cam six, available with Bosch fuel injection as a 280SE. These were cataloged as sedans, coupes and convertibles. The W108 280SE continued in production through 1972, when it was succeeded by the more gently contoured W116.

This 280SE convertible has been repainted, but has not been restored. From Indiana, it is finished in white with Navy blue top and leather interior. A two-owner car, it has covered 61,000 miles; the air conditioning blows cold and power windows operate smoothly. It is equipped with automatic transmission.