Here’s a bit of light therapy in those dark, cold and wet pre-Christmas weeks. This classic Mercedes-Benz convertible, with its top down, caught my attention at a car show. On a sunny day, with a highly pleasant temperature, last October.
A marvelous 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (convertible) W111-series, a model of the so-called Heckflossen-Serie. Among Benz-buffs the W111 is also known as the Große Flosse.
The W111-series was introduced in 1959, most common was of course the 4-door Limousine (sedan). The W111 2-door Coupé and Cabriolet were the last largely handcrafted Mercedes-Benz automobiles. Four times as much handmade parts were used as for the Limousine.
No wonder the Coupé and Cabriolet were almost twice as expensive as the Limousine…
Just 2,729 of these 220 SE Cabriolets were built from September 1961 to October 1965. Its power unit is the M127.984, a 120 hp 2,195 cc inline-6 engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection.
This is how a high-end classic car interior looks like. Only the best materials and assembly-quality will do.
This splendid cruiser for sunny days is equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission. Right. Is it spring yet ? Because I can’t wait.
Related: Curbside Classic: 1966 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Cabriolet (W111)
Absolutely beautiful machine. I want one. Despite the fact I swore off Your-A-Peeon cars after my 245 Volvo…
Such a gorgeous interior! Modern car manufacturers could definitely learn something from this car.
…and try to replicate it in woodgrain-painted plastic.
“Just 2,729 of these 220 SE Cabriolets were built from September 1961 to October 1965.”
It’s a shame they destroyed 2 of the 5 vehicles used in the filming of the movie “The Hangover”. Hopefully the 2 destroyed one’s were the two chopped coupes they used, & not the cabby’s?
“‘The Hangover’ 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220SE For Sale:”
http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/12/9/The-Hangover-1965-Mercedes-Benz-220SE-For-Sale-7706247/
Unfortunately it said they used 3 cabrios and 2 survived… Hopefully the one that didn’t was a hopeless rusty hulk that had been ‘fixed up’ for use in a stunt.
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!
In a more worthy escapade from earlier this year, “The Nice Guys” what I think is a high grille 280 6 cylinder makes an appearance and gets a little beat up at one point.
I suspect a crash scene was planned but not included in the cinema release of DVD because a mule was cobbled together from a W108, evident from shots of the instrument cluster and the vent window which is very shaped differently from the W111/C, sighted most clearly when the daughter is driving.
Mike
As I understand it, the cars in the movie were not genuine convertibles, but rather w111 coupes that had been converted. This of course is still a crime given that the coupes are also beautiful and rather rare, but not as rare as the cabriolets. Only quite recently the coupes have become expensive, thus preventing this horrible practice.
Inside the main building (at the location where the car show was held) was -and stilll is- this wonderful 1965 MB W111 220 SE Coupé.
A crime indeed, if you use something like this to convert it into a convertible for a stupid movie.
I see where VW got their idea for the “Bay Window” van.
What a sweetie ! .
I nearly bought a # 111 Coupe but these things drink premium fuel like an old Caddy…..
-Nate
Only difference is that you will not be met by the milage question stepping out of this car, like you do all the time, stepping out of a Cadillac.
I bet my 1980 Fleetwood S & S Victoria hearse gets better fuel economy and it runs on Regular to boot =8-) .
The one I nearly bought was light blue like the one above, it had dual Solex carbys and so was what, a 220S ? .
I am not sure but for $300 I prolly shoulda bought it .
Considering how hard I run my 300CD Diesel Sports Coupe, it’s prolly better
to use the W123 as my D.D. and Road Rally Car .
-Nate
Always wondered why all that great German engineering couldn’t come up with a decent automatic transmission or A/C that wasn’t a crappy under dash hang on unit. And, weren’t these over 10 grand new? Make mine a ’65 deVille. Power, size and luxury for thousands less, and before the subsequent decontenting set it.
Germany’s temperate climate did not require A/C as a necessity. I suppose once the US market became very important to them they integrated A/C into the design brief.
Similarly the automatic transmission. Fuel economy was more important. Again the US market was the driver in adapting automatics.
What was so crappy about the auto?
NOTHING ~ it shifts crisply and firmly like any Hot Rodded slush box does .
They never fail before 250,000 miles either ~ some folks just _have_ to carp and whine like children .
-Nate
… or, have the audacity to express an opinion different than yours.
Mercedes automatic transmission is “half automatic” in my opinion up untill the upper 1990’s, as they were very bad in changing down when going uphill.
My private car up untill 1995 was a 1973 Cadillac Coupe dé Ville, whereas I drove a brand new Mercedes 290 for work. In the latter I often changed down manually going uphill, because it otherwise would drag itself uphill in a too high gear.
The Cadillac would smoothly shift down by itself.
The “Story” is as follows. Back in the early 1970’s the only air conditioning that was available for V.W, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes was aftermarket kits that were mounted under the dash. They were made in Texas ( I forgot the name of the manufacturer) These units were week at best as their designs were hampered by lack of space as they had to run separate ducting add addition blower motors and since they were under the dash leave room for passengers legs. A bunch of U.S. dealers of the German made autos, decided to invite the heads of the various auto makers to a Las Vegas Meeting during the Summer months. They had them all fly in to L.A. and drove them to Las Vegas in their own products without Air Conditioning. They traveled across the desert in 100 plus degrees temperatures.They got the message across. All of the manufacturers had ordered their engineers to design future cars with Air Conditioning in mind. Mercedes opted to use a combination of AC Delco and Chrysler Airtemp Components. The Compressors were AC Delco and the electronics, switches and vacuum components were Chrysler Airtemp. This system worked very well for Mercedes and AC was no longer an issue.
The “Story” is as follows. Back in the early 1970’s the only air conditioning that was available for V.W, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes was aftermarket kits that were mounted under the dash. They were made in Texas ( I forgot the name of the manufacturer) These units were weak at best as their designs were hampered by lack of space as they had to run separate ducting add additional blower motors and since they were under the dash leave room for passengers legs. A bunch of U.S. dealers of the German made autos, decided to invite the heads of the various auto makers to a Las Vegas Meeting during the Summer months. They had them all fly in to L.A. and drove them to Las Vegas in their own products without Air Conditioning. They traveled across the desert in 100 plus degrees temperatures.They got the message across. All of the manufacturers had ordered their engineers to design future cars with Air Conditioning in mind. Mercedes opted to use a combination of AC Delco and Chrysler Airtemp Components. The Compressors were AC Delco and the electronics, switches and vacuum components were Chrysler Airtemp. This system worked very well for Mercedes and AC was no longer an issue.
“This system worked very well for Mercedes and AC was no longer an issue.”
Well, sort of ;
The Klima I’s EVIL SERVO OF DOOM (the Chrysler Airtemp I part) wasn’t very good, it required *perfectly clean* coolant at all times or it died and cracked, p*$$ing out your coolant wherever you were….
I became _very_ adept at servicing these and the AC was ice cold when it worked but it never seemed to last long except in Mechanic’s cars .
Luckily there are three manufacturer’s of this over complicated device, two of which use machined aluminum bodies making for better reliability .
-Nate
The things you remember…cowbells…
Home / Reviews / Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 – Archived Road Test
ARCHIVED ROAD TEST
Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5
Mercedes’ fuel-injected, ohc, small V-8 debuts.
SEP 1970 BY CAR AND DRIVER STAFF
In fact, what Mercedes-Benz could say of their 280SE 3.5 is that “at 100 mph, the loudest sound you hear is the air-conditioner.” And they could say that even if the rest of the car was clattering away like a sack full of cowbells, because the air-conditioner is noisy. It does the job effectively and only somewhat obtrusively, as long as you don’t need anything more than low-blower strength. If it gets really warm, and you get the blower up on the high end of the rheostat, the unit sounds like it’s going to huff, and puff, and blow the windshield out.
No, I didn’t read this when first published. It just feels like it some days.
The name of the company was DPD AC. I believer that stood for Dealership Products Development. Long time out of business.
DPD AC
4926 Space Center Drive
San Antonio, Texas
That’s a bit unusual, the front seats are the buckets of the rarely seen 4 bucket “Safari” seat option. Not aware they were offered separately.
The wheel arch moulds have been sourced from a W112/C. I think the facings of the rear ashtrays should be black and the background of the star in the horn pad ivory.. Beautiful car, sorry to be the Anorak.
Recently read this stunning book:
https://www.amazon.de/Mercedes-Benz-Cabrios-Coup%C3%A9s-Ren%C3%A9-Staud/dp/3832732934
And even the photographed examples of models I’m familiar with are not entirely correct. These cars have typically undergone changes during their long and often uninterrupted service lives.
Pish. CC is anoraksville… it’s your obligation.
Jim
Right on all accounts of course! Not 100% sure about the ashtrays, but all the early photos I have seen were black too. I think this is often changed when these cars are eventually reupholstered.
100% correct about the steering wheel badge. The wheel, padded boss and badge background were always either all black or all ivory, never a combination. Again when reupholstered people often get the padded boss done in the same colour as the seats. Wrong! Only black or ivory are correct.
As for wheel arch chrome, this was only ever standard in the 300 versions – not even the 3.5 had this but many have been added and they are usually after market items.
I have seen a 111 with these front seats and standard back seat, but it was a coupe. It is very possible that the factorybwould donthis if you asked nicely and wrote the appropriate cheque!
I noticed the unusual front seat backs, but was not aware of these alternate versions until now. I’ve learned something new today.
Gorgeous car, not a bad line on it anywhere. Though I do find the instrument panel a bit odd.
Interesting find, I never saw a Mercedes Benz of this vintage in Convertible form, much less one like the size of a 220. I mean, I saw a convertible version of the W124 at the Mercedes Benz museum, and I thought that was odd. This, is a whole nother ballpark. But, it’s very well taken care of.
Also, those last two shots of the steering wheel are gold. It looks so happy.
A beautiful example of “peak Mercedes”, which in my opinion ran from about 1952 to 1972. I think the Benzes of that era had it all – legendary build quality and high speed ability, but coupled to looks that proclaimed, “Die Beste oder nichts”. Fabulous cars, perhaps the finest ever made.
I’ve ALWAYS wanted one of these; their prices always rose faster than my discretionary income did.
🙁
What I dreamed I was driving in while driving both of my 300SELs. Speaking of which, glad to see the 300 version of the cab/coupe got a mention in the comments – with all the attention on the 280 SE 3.5’s, it’s like the forgotten member of the family, and the only one with air suspension.
One reason they were heavier than the sedans was a pretty generous use of lead filler in the bodywork – something my old garage mechanic pointed out on a coupe they were refinishing.
Absolutely gorgeous. The only blemish being the rather huge folded top, but one wonders if there was any way around that. Perhaps it would have compromised the structure somehow to recess it further into the bodywork? Still, I’d gladly have one–I’ve seen a few at car shows and they always grab my attention immediately.
Also, I love the term “grosse flosse”!