Owner’s view
“I love Mercedes of this era and anything
low-mileage and original appeals to me,” explains Aucott of Avantgarde. “This
300SE has only done 55,000 miles - I’ll never find another like it. I’ve had it
for two years and use it sparingly; I drove it to a wedding in the summer. They
are fantastically well built and, if you get a good one, it will be really
reliable. They are excellent value compared to the V8s, because people are
nervous of the air suspension, but if the card is well looked after it is
unlikely to give any problems. If it does, it can be costly to put right,
though you can get all the parts from Jacksons. The soft-top and interior are
also expensive to restore, which is why I was so pleased to find this
low-mileage, immaculate car.”
The knowledge
What to pay
·
Show V8 Cabriolet (average): $300k ($187.5k)
·
Show 300 Cabrio (average): $120,000 ($60k)
·
Show V8 Coupe/220/250 Cab(ave): $90k ($60k)
·
Show 220/250 Coupe (average): $37.5k ($30k)
·
Restoration six-cylinder Coupe: $7,500
Parts prices
·
Front wing: $2,118
·
Outer sill: $675
·
Brake master cylinder: $180-489
·
Good used auto gearbox: $900
·
Fuel pump: $1,270
·
Water pump: $546
Timeline
·
1961: 220SE Coupe and
Cabriolet announced
·
1962: Mar: 300SE Coupe and Cabrio launched:
extra chrome, burr walnut, auto, 109-124mph
·
1963: Aug: dual-circuit brakes on all models
·
1964: 300SEupfroml60bhptol70bhp
·
1965: 250SE replaces 220SE (16,902 built):
150bhp, 115-118mph; 300SE gets bigger discs, stronger rear axle; all get 14in
wheels, full trims
·
1967: Dec: 280SE (5187 built) replaces 250
(6213) 6 300 (3127), 160bhp, 115-118mph
·
1969: 280SE 3.5 added (4502 built): electric
windows, air-con, stereo, auto change on tunnel; all get lower, wider grille,
rubber bumper inserts, new wheel trims, leather instrument surround
·
1971: Production ends
Fact file
·
Sold/number built: 1961-71/27,767 Coupe, 8164 Cabriolet
·
Construction: steel
monocoque
·
Engine: iron-block,
alloy-head, sohc 2195/2496/ 2778cc 'six’, all-alloy 2996cc 'six; mechanical
injection, or iron-block, alloy-head 3499cc V8, EFI; 120bhp @ 4800rpm-200bhp @
5800rpm; 140lb-ft @ 3900rpm-211lb-ft @ 4000rpm
·
Transmission: four-speed
manualor automatic, RWD; optional limited-slip diff or five-speed manual on
300; optional three-speed auto on V8
·
Suspension: front wishbones, anti-roll bar rear swing axles; coils, telescopies
f/r; 300 has air springs f/r, optional on rear of 220 from Aug ’63; 250/280
hydro pneumatic self-leveling; 280SE 3.5 has rubber auxiliary springs f/r
·
Steering: power-assisted
recirculating ball, (optional on 220/250/280); 3.2 turns lock-to- lock
(3.75-4.1 unassisted)
·
Brakes: 273mm
discs front, 279mm rear, with servo (except 220:253mm f, 230mm drums r)
·
Length: 15ft
10in-15ft 11in (4880-4905mm)
·
Width: 6ft
(1845mm)
·
Height: 4ft
6in-4ft 8in (1395-1445mm)
·
Wheelbase: 8ft
11in (2750mm)
·
Weight: 3102-3630lb
(1410-1650kg)
·
Mpg: 16-28
·
0-60mph: 12.8-9
secs
·
Top speed: 103-130mph
·
Price new: $7,925/8,526
(300SE Coupe/Cab, '67)
Insurance
$290, for a Londoner, 30: full
no-claims/clean license on a ’67 300SE Cabrio as garaged 2nd car, value
$112.5k, 5000 ltd miles
The alternatives
Lancia Flaminia coupe/GT/Cabrio
Derived from Aurelia with superb V6, de Dion rear set-up and
all-disc brakes, the desirable Flaminias were the 2+2 Coupe and two-seaters.
Great driver’s cars that lacked the Merc’s durability, and rotted.
·
Sold/no built: 1958-’67/8101
·
Mpg: 18-28
·
0-60mph: 13.6-10
secs
·
Top speed: 106-121mph
·
New: $4,485
(Coupe,’67)
·
Now: $22.5-37.5k
(Coupe)
Cadillac Eldorado
The Eldorado Coupes and soft-tops went
through three models from 1961-70. Huge and packing 6.4-8.2 V8s, they dwarfed
the M-Band featured far plusher fitments, but drank and wallowed like old
soaks.
·
Sold/no built: 1961-70/100,603
·
Mpg: 8-18
·
0-60mph: 13-9 secs
·
Top speed: 115-128mph
·
New: $8,780
(Coupe, ’67)
·
Now: $9-22.5k
(Coupe)
·
One to buy $38,925
·
Year of registration: 1965
·
Recorded mileage: 26,227
·
Vendor: Cheshire
Classic Benz, Macclesfield; tel: 01625 260913
·
For: Super,
lightly mellowed condition; a lovely drive
·
Against: Dulled
tail-lights
This 220SE is the property of CCB
proprietor Peter Lewis, and he’s only selling because he has too many other
cars to use. It was restored from 2003-’06 and is still near-perfect; only Concours
judges would notice that the rear window seals are a little perished, there are
minor scratches on the windscreen trim, a few ripples in the sill trims and
that the rear-light plastic trims have lost their chrome. The 14in wheels widen
tyre choice (currently new Goodyears all-round), look better and slightly raise
the gearing, but the factory 13in steels with tires and trims are in the boot.
Burgundy
paint superb; bumpers re-chromed during Resto
The leather is as it left Stuttgart - just
taking on small cracks and creases - plus the carpets and headlining are good.
The timber is superb, and there’s the original clock and Blaupunkt radio (both
working), plus inertia-reel belts all round.
Fantastically
patinated hide is also in excellent condition
The engine was rebuilt during the
restoration, and has covered only 9000 miles since. It’s clean and tidy, still
with cadmium plating to the fuel linkage and lines, no leaks, plus clean oils
and coolant to the correct levels. Oil pressure is the usual maximum 45psi on
the gauge, with temperature settling at 180°F. Lewis drove the car 600 miles on
the day he bought it in 2009, and it feels as if it could do it daily. It’s
sweet and supple with a fine ride, no slop in the steering and nice firm brakes
that pull up straight. Gear- changes are smooth, but with the typical M-B lag
to kick down. The MoT runs until 2 May.
Rebuilt
2.2 straight-six now runs 123 electronic ignition
Elegant
Bracq lines of the W111/2 two-doors formed the basic of the W108/9 saloons
Our verdict
There are still bargains to be found among
six-cylinder Coupes, but you should check rot and repairs carefully.
Missing/incorrect parts can be pricey to replace; look for detailed history
from a recognized specialist and evidence of long term care. V8s are highly
valued and desirability will ensure their prices continue to rise, while
‘sixes’ stand to appreciate equally well.
For
·
Guaranteed classic status
·
Exceptional build quality
·
Comfort and performance
·
Outstanding spares/specialist back-up
Against
·
Costly to restore if neglected
[1]Air suspension is not to all tastes
·
Some bits are expensive and/or hard to find: a
good used bumper set at $3,750, for example
