Equipment & Specs
Car from a Yanase dealership; left-hand drive; equipped with power steering, power windows, and air conditioning
Description
A Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe has just arrived in our inventory. The W111, a quintessential luxury personal coupe from Mercedes in the 1960s
, was available with a variety of engines, including 2.2-, 2.5-,2.8-liter engines. Among these, the model known as the 3.5 Coupe—introduced in 1969—was designed primarily to meet the needs of the North American market. It was equipped with the series’ largest engine, a 3.5-liter V8 (M116) producing 200 horsepower, resulting in significantly more powerful performance.With only about 3,270 units produced over four years, it is now considered one of the rarest classic Mercedes-Benz models
. At the time, only a select handful of privileged owners could afford to purchase an extremely expensive coupe like this 3.5 Coupe brand-new.In Japan, during the bubble economy era, many cars were parallel imported from the United States, and the majority of 3.5 Coupes seen in the country today are North American-spec models. This particular vehicle is a rare example among them, having been officially imported by Yanase in February of Showa 46.Judging by the chassis number, this car is based on the European specification and was produced in 1970 toward the very end of the model’s production run. The exterior
features a silver body with a black leather interior. The steering wheel also retains its original black finish.It’s a combination that exudes a slightly European flair—one that I personally find appealing. While tastes may vary on this point, given that the W111 itself is believed to be inspired by 1950s American car design, I think this chic combination suits it well. The paint and chrome trim are generally in good condition, and the car is ready to drive as is.
Some time after this vehicle was imported to Japan in Showa 46, the exterior and interior underwent a restoration. During that restoration, everything from the seats to the wood trim was repaired. It is equipped with power windows and power steering. With the original Becker radio and floor-mounted automatic transmission, it features one of the most popular configurations.
Naturally, it is also equipped with air conditioning, allowing for an extremely comfortable driving experience on par with modern cars
. The entire vehicle, from the body to the floor, is in excellent overall condition, with no rust or corrosion. All wear-and-tear parts have been replaced, and the car is maintained in a condition that allows you to drive it without any issues.
I believe that any W111 Coupe in good condition has had someone invest money at some point to bring it to its current state. It is precisely because there have been owners who spent an amount equal to or even greater than the original purchase price on restoration that such fine cars have been preserved for future generations, allowing the next owner to reap the benefits.
We sincerely hope that the next owner will also cherish and drive this car with care. You can view the car at our facility
, Chigasaki Garage (333 Amanuma, Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture), so if you’re interested, please come by and take a look.
