Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe - "Preservation vs. Restoration"

[@jkoysza1]

I used to watch Lothar Motschenbacher race at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio. Number 11! Time passes.

[@vanillac7383]

SUCH a Gorgeous ABSOLUTELY Auto I would love to OWN It . I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT ❤

[@wadey1432]

Lovely car but how do you prove it has only been painted once ?? Also if the brakes and suspension are all original then it definitely won't drive as it should - 45 year old shocks and rubbers in the sway bars and engine mounts will be shot...

[@JSDesignHK]

WADEY quite right you are. Also, these "experts" don't seem to realise these cars never came with pinstriping.

[@boblacks945]

@@JSDesignHK I wonder if the pinstriping on this and other Mercedes of the 1960's could have been a dealer option. I know that several options like a/c were installed by the US dealers because of the demands of the American market.

[@JSDesignHK]

@@boblacks945 pinstriping was not offered in the 1960s, but I do know that in LA, both Simonson in Santa Monica and Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills started offering them as a dealer option in the mid-1970s.

[@JSDesignHK]

What is with the incorrect and non original pinstripes? These cars never had them, so there's no point in discussing "this is original and how these cars are supposed to be".

[@euc131]

Nice car but missing all the correct engine stickers and yes those pinstripes are just sad ! Definitely not original

[@khaledal-habib777]

Price?

[@andershallberg6668]

Fantastic car, but it is out of the question that the interior and the engine bay areas have not been restored extensively. Unless the car has zero mileage. With 49 years on the road, there should be more signs of use on an original car. Plus the original engine stickers seem to be absent.

[@Johnsormani]

just from 50 years of dust it would have to look much worse than this.