MERCEDES-BENZ COUPE

 

Every so often a car comes along that truly befits the classic car ‘survivor’ status.

This astonishingly original right hand drive Mercedes 250 Coupe is such a car, being in perfect working order. Sparingly used and as a consequence, the odometer now shows just 50K miles, a total which seems completely plausible, given its supporting history and in the way in which it drives – actually perfectly, plus it is light, tight and responsive.

This is a matching numbers car and remains original to its factory specification. The body is arrow-straight with exemplary panel gaps and presents beautifully.

The exterior fittings and abundant chrome trim are in superb condition and its further complement by its original and rare factory sunroof. The windscreen is unblemished, as is all the remaining original window glass and corresponding rubber seals.

The interior is remarkably preserved with dark blue leather seats, immaculate walnut dashboard and headcloth. The comprehensive instruments, heating and lighting controls are complete and fully functioning as you would expect from a German car of this quality. Pleasingly the cabin retains the original period radio player and speakers which remain in good working order.

The Mercedes engine starts on the button, idles consistently and with ample power on tap, pulls the large coupe along with ease. The automatic gearbox is precise and shifting is easy, quiet and smooth making this the 60’s version of grace, pace and space.

In line with its pampered past a recent and comprehensive engine service has just been completed. It is shod with five brand new period whitewall tyres, which suit the chassis perfectly, giving it a compliant and comfortable ride plus tenuous grip; something I can attest to, having driven her countless shake-down miles in the last month.

The mercedes will have a current 12 months MOT and includes the original and stamped service book. The owner’s handbook, radio and maintenance provenance are present in the car’s folder along with original sales brochures.

In summary a rare Mercedes, beautifully preserved and ready for many more miles of reliable nostalgic 1960’s motoring.

The Mercedes 1960’s 250 SEB Coupes have become in huge demand over the last few years and are one of the highest climbers in the Classic car market.

 

Owner History:

• 1st Owner Mr J.K.Scott of Swansea 18-08-1966
• 2nd Owner Mr A.Ralton of Calne 23-12-1985
• 3rd Owner Mr D.Darsa of Surrey 11-05-1989
• 4th Owner Mr J.Nicholson of Haslemere 05-04-1996
• 5th Owner Mr D.Kennedy of Glasgow 19-06-2013

The Benz cognoscenti have always known how good the W111 coupés are, seeking them out long before the trendies adopted the cars in the 1980s; at one time it seemed as if every photographer in Notting Hill owned one. Beautifully built, rare and timelessly handsome, the coupés are fully deserving of classic status.

This is an amazing original Mercedes-Benz, the like we will never see again in this condition. Sure there are some lovely restored cars out their but they are only original once.

Few post-war Mercs rank higher in the desirability stakes.

Exterior:

• Beautifully built, rare and timelessly handsome
• Full service history from day one
• Complete original, Silver
• 50,000 miles from new
• 2496 cc engine has only covered 12000 miles after receiving a new short motor
• Automatic gearbox is smooth and works as it should
• Regularly serviced
• Tyres are new on refurbished 14” wheels
• New MOT
• Excellent paintwork – last of the hand built Mercedez-Benz

Interior:

• Blue leather upholster (complements the Silver exterior)
• New carpets (only replaced due to colour fading)
• Wood work on the dash is bur walnut
• Large electric sun-roof in perfect condition inc head cloth

Documentation:

• This car has a full service history and its original service book.
• We have the pre-delivery check lists showing 24 miles
• Letters from the dealer to the new owners
• The actual Guarantee from Mercedes-Benz (Great Britain) Ltd. dated the 15/08/1966, showing the chassis number; (the original document & the envelope it came in)
• Letters from the dealer in respect of the warranty
• All the service records through out the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s to date
• The original sales booklet
• Old MOT’s from the 80’s to date (16)
• This Mercedes comes with a new mot and 6 months warranty

History

The date of the introduction of the W111 Series Mercedes SE Coupe was carefully chosen. It was not as usual an international automobile show, this time it was the opening of the Daimler-Benz Museum in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim on Feb. 24th, 1961 and the celebration of the company’s 75th anniversary. With its pillar-less side glass, a hallmark of almost all coupes coming out of Stuttgart in future, and wraparound front and rear windows, the car was a statement of exquisite taste and should remain in production till 1971.

The cabriolet was launched a little later at the Frankfurt International Automobile Show in September 1961.

The chassis had to be strengthened on the sides due to the coupe’s pillar-less design. Both sedan and coupe had roughly the same length, but the coupe was 5 cm (2 in) wider and 8.5 cm (3.3 in) lower. Next to chassis and engine, the only other parts that were shared with the sedan were the head lights and the radiator grille. Powered by a silky smooth six cylinder engine the car is capable of over 100mph and keeps up with modern traffic with ease.

The luggage area was huge for a coupe and the interior generous for a two-door vehicle. Seats were thick, wide and covered with leather. From the beginning the coupe had an aura of class and dignity and for the first time it was possible to travel in a Mercedes coupe with four passengers in comfort. The interior of the car was a feast for the eyes (and the nose). Not only the seats were covered with top quality leather, also the door trim, the dashboard cover, the rear shelf and even the inside of the glove compartment used the same material. The dashboard fascia, the instrument housing and the loudspeaker cover were made of wood. Like in the Ponton coupe models one could choose between walnut, macassar or burl walnut veneer. The instrument-layout was a departure from the sedan version, it was copied from the 300SL roadster, with speedometer and odometer to the left and right and secondary instruments for oil-pressure, fuel and water in the centre.

The cabriolet had been developed in the tradition of Daimler-Benz to offer a special and elegant open top two-door version of their six-cylinder executive cars. Although they were produced alongside the sedans, many parts had been manually assembled, so that one can say these cars were the last hand built cars of Daimler-Benz, taken the 600 aside. They offered a quality unmatched by its rivals and even successors.

£ SOLD