This 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 coupe is one of approximately 3,270 examples produced between 1969 and 1971, and it is finished in Blue Metallic over parchment leather. Powered by a 3.5-liter V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, the car features 14″ steel wheels with covers, disc brakes, power windows, air conditioning, and a Becker AM/FM radio. It was acquired by the current owner on BaT in January 2026, and subsequent work has included replacing the driver belts and repairing the gearshift linkage. This W111 coupe is offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with manufacturer’s literature, a data plate, service records, and a clean Montana title in the name of the current owner’s LLC.
The car came finished in Blue Metallic (396) and was repainted under prior ownership. Equipment includes a wrap-around rear window, front vent windows, US-specification headlights, a “low-style” grille, and chrome bumpers.
The 14″ steel wheels feature bright-finished covers with color-matched centers and were mounted with Travelstar UN106 tires in October 2025. The suspension includes an independent double-wishbone front setup with coil springs along with a rear single-joint swing axle. Stopping power is provided by power-assisted disc brakes at each corner, and the car is equipped with power steering. The power steering pressure manifold washers were resealed, and the fluid was flushed in March 2026.
The cabin features individual front seats and a rear bench fitted with replacement parchment leather covers, while blue carpets line the floors, and coco floor mats were fitted under current ownership. Amenities include three-point seat belts, power windows, a dashboard-mounted clock, and Becker AM/FM radio. The air conditioning compressor and receiver/dryer were replaced, and the seatbelts were re-webbed in 2025. The gearshift swivel linkage was replaced, and the trunk was repainted in March 2026.
The white-finished steering wheel was installed under current ownership and fronts a 160-mph speedometer, a tachometer with a 6,500-rpm redline, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 80k miles, approximately 400 of which were added under current ownership.
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The 3.5-liter M116 V8 features Bosch Jetronic fuel injection and was factory rated at 200 horsepower and 211 lb-ft of torque. The valve cover gaskets were replaced in 2025, and the drive belts were replaced in 2026.
Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission, which was serviced in August 2025.
Decoding the data plate reveals the following information:
- 249 – Rear window, electrically heated
- 491 – US version
- 503 – Outside rear view mirror, left
- 513 – Becker radio
- 531 – Automatic antenna
- 586 – Behr air conditioning and electric windows