1971 Mercedes-Benz 200-Series

- 1 owner 280SE - California car - Sedan

6 CYL

Automatic

10801812066939

Clear

Gasoline

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE One owner from new 80K original miles Original paint Here up for bids on eBay is this incredibly well preserved Mercedes 280SE.  This car was bought new through the Mercedes European Delivery program and after touring Europe in the Summer of 1970 it was shipped to California.  The car has had just one owner from new, it has 80K original miles with service receipts to verify.  If you follow these W108 sedans on eBay you know that the really good ones are not easy to find, I usually see only 4 or 5 on eBay each year.  A lot of these cars suffered from deferred maintenance, uncaring owners, or rust.  This car is the exception; it features all original paint with zero rust issues anywhere.  The interior is all original and in outstanding condition.   Undercarrige and engine bay are spotless.  I believe that it's about as close to showroom new as you'll find.  Click to enlarge any of the photos below, a link to a slideshow of all the enlarged images is available to view at the bottom of the page. For having original paint, this car shines.  The paint quality is beautiful with excellent depth and gloss.  No sun fading, checking or other age related problems.   Original paint elimates a lot of guesswork about a car's past, what you see is what your get, and your'e going to like what your see here.  The body is arrow straight with excellent panel gaps throughout.  I  have been over this car from top to bottom and have found no rust issues anywhere - no bubbling, no blistering - no problems.  Tires are new Hankook Optimos with less than 100 miles on them.  All 4 wheelcovers are in great shape. Before coming to Oregon last month the car had spent all of it years in California.  The license plates are the originals issued from new, they have current registration and are included with the car.   The car has 2 flaws: a small scratch on the hood and a ding on the face of the grill surround.  Wiper blade holders are original, the fresh air vent shows the original filter material still intact.  Classic Hirchmann antenna is in great shape.   The glass is all original, including the windshield.  It's all in excellent condition with no scratches or hard water spotting, although the windshield has one small star on the passenger side.  The passenger side still has the "Einfahrgeschwindigkeit" (running-in speed) sticker, the drivers side shows the original antifreeze snowflake.  The parcel shelf beneath the rear glass had been covered with a cloth for years, as a result it looks brand new.   The bumpers are in great shape with excellent chrome, they have never been replated and still look great after 43 years. Headlights are the original GE units from new.  All car's anodized trim still looks great, and all of the chrome on this car is terrific with no pitting. The trunk has the original tool kit and Bilstein jacking equipment.  W108 trunks often serve as a litmus test for the car's history.  One look underneath the mat tells it all. Perfect side wells with no trace of rust.  The 4th photo shows a rare early power antenna system from Hirschmann.  It operates from the on-off swith on the radio and still functions correctly. The interior in this Mercedes is like stepping back in time; it's perfectly preserved.  The MB-Tex seats are all original but look like new.  From the carpet to the wood to the headliner, the interior is simply excellent. All of the sill plates are in terrific condition.  The car has a set of high quality Coco Mats which add a nice vintage feel to this interior, these were optional add-ons for Mercedes and Porsche automobiles from that era. The back seat and arm rest are both like new.  The car has a full set of Kangol seat belts, all in like-new condition.  You'd be surprised at what these sell for on eBay. All door panels are in great shape.  All of the weatherstripping on the car is original and still holding up beautifully.  All of the wood that frames the windows is in excellent condition with no sun or water damage. Nice steering wheel with no cracks or spidering.  Every gauge, switch and control operates correctly except for the clock.  The heater levers were a weak spot in Mercedes from this era, these have been replaced with Dura-levers and all move freely.  The fan control on the upper left slider works correctly at both settings.  The Becker Europa stereo works great.  The A/C unit is fully functional but will need a recharge before next summer, it blows cool but could be colder. All gauges work correctly and show consistent readings.  Oil pressure readings are good and the car always runs cool, right around 180F. Power windows all work swiftly. The dash wood has an all original finish and looks terrific.  Dash pad is perfect with no splits.  I don't mean to sound effusive here, but this car is just that good. Clean underdash area with all panel boards present.  The headliner is unmarked with no punctures or tears.  The cloth binding around the door perimeter is all good, weatherstripping as well. The car comes with 2 pouches full of factory literature as well as a folder of service receipts and registration slips verifying ownership history and mileage.  The 4th photos shows correspondence from Mercedes regarding the European Delivery as well as German insurance paperwork from its overseas tour in 1970. This Mercedes runs and drives as well as it looks.  The car starts easily and runs down the road with decorum.  The car shifts precisely, brakes well, runs cool and has a firm, solid suspension.  It emits a puff of smoke on startup but none once underway.  The inline six produces plenty of power, the car is equally at home on the freeway as it is around town.  You'll like the way this car runs and drives. Lots of nice original details throughout, there's no substitute for a low mile car. The undercarriage is all original, still showing the cosmoline treatment from the factory.  Never hit, never rusted, this is what a W108 undercarrige should look like. Clean and dry underneath, still showing the factory inspection marks in many places.  Sills and jack points are all solid.  Body-color wheel wells are all in fantastic shape. With each passing year, cars like this are becoming harder to find.  This car is a prime example of what happens when Pride of Ownership meets Mercedes Build Quality. Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images. About the Reserve Price: Out of fairness to all bidders, the reserve is held in confidence, please just bid at the level that you are comfortable paying.  This auction ends Monday, 5-12-14 at at 10 AM Pacific Time , 12 Noon Central , 1 PM Eastern, 5 PM GMT. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.  I would like a $500 deposit via paypal within 24 hours.  Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.   Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.  Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.  Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, Oregon under applicable state laws.  By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback, I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.  I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week.  You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5.  Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, although I can certainly help with logistics.  I have a wholesale account with a transport booking service and can help you find a reasonable shipping rate.   Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo CFR / Rinkens California Shipping Thanks for looking!