Description
Offered for sale is a stunning, rust-free, numbers matching California example of a 1963 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet. Finished in mirror Black (DB 040 G) over black leather with plenty of chrome and polished wood accents, it’s easy to understand why this car gets plenty of looks. Undeniably opulent but also perpetually tasteful, with its wonderfully engineered mechanicals and swooping, graceful lines, the W111 represented the finest big cabriolet on the road in its day, both in terms of build quality and design. And in essence, that hasn’t changed. In terms of 4-seater cabriolets, not one other car comes to mind as having surpassed the W111 Cab in elegance and reliability. I suppose the argument could be made that the Rolls Royce Corniche (1971-1996) proved to be a worthy competitor, but in my humble opinion that car’s ostentatiousness and miserable cost of ownership considerably diminish its appeal. No, the W111 is at the top of its class, and consequently demand for the model has always remained high and guaranteed appreciation.
The car’s exterior is gorgeous, its black finish retaining tons of depth and luster, marred only by the most minimal of imperfections, none of which appear in any of the pictures. All of the chrome and glass is original, both presenting nicely. The car’s black canvas soft top shows no signs of wear and the wheels (with matching hubcaps) are wrapped in brand new white wall tires. The car is exceptionally straight with excellent panel fits and gaps indicating an accident free history of careful ownership. The car’s interior is equally as clean, its original seats free of tears, loose stitching, etc. and showing only the mildest amount of appropriate patina. The carpets are in great shape, as the interior panels, and the dash wood is absolutely stunning with no cracking, sun damage, flaking veneer, etc. The car also has a fully functional radio.
Mechanically the car is representative of Mercedes’ legendary reputation for longevity and thorough engineering. The matching numbers engine starts easily, idles smoothly and pulls cleanly and strongly through each of the gears. The car shifts easily, brakes smoothly and feels solid on the road, none of which should come as any surprise as it has always been meticulously maintained. To back this, the car comes with an impressively thick stack of service receipts. Always garaged and driven in Southern California, the car is free of rust or evidence of rust repair, retaining its original undercoating.
This is an excellent opportunity at one of the best looking, solid 220SEs available today. Its a wonderful car, both in terms of looks and mechanicals and is sure not to disappoint.
