Here is our 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5 (W108) in chocolate brown and java leather twin interior. This car is the member of the stroke-eight (/8) family - serving as a flagship model along with the 300-series. All it needs is a new paint job and a little bit of engine work which is being done now - pictures coming soon.
As seen above, these cars were loved by the bad guys in James Bond movies. They were used as chase cars to follow his exotic British sports cars. You'd see the driver, a bossy thug giving orders and then a gunman hanging out of the window shooting at Bond! Notable movies were "Octopussy" or "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and more. The image is from OHMSS and it was used by Blofeld's bad girl, Fr�ulein Irma Bunt.
This is the image of it at David Morris Fine Cars in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada before it was delivered to us. The final price of this vehicle was $2,000 CDN with taxes included already. A deal for sure.
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5
32 years old, 90,322 original miles
Value in UK: �9,500 / $22,000 CDN / $17,000 US
4.5L V8 SOHC 16v Bosch D-Jetronic Electronic Fuel Injection (M117.980)
127 MPH / 205 KPH Top Speed
Automatic 3-Speed Transmission
Rear-Wheel Drive
Air Conditioning
Handcrafted Sedan
Authentic Feintuft Carpeting
Authentic Java Twin Leather Interior
Authentic Zebrano Wood
Central Locking System
Dual Climate Zones
Europa Mexico AM/FM Radio
Height Adjustable Driver�s Seat
Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Passenger Reading Lights
Power Brakes (Four Wheel Discs)
Power Steering
Power Sunroof
Power Windows
Tinted Glass
Rear Window Defogger
As you can well see, this car has all the modern features and is fully capable of keeping up with the most modern of vehicles, but is set in prestigious old world styling. You look and feel like a head of state in this vehicle. In my opinion, the only new world features this vehicles lacks is ABS and Airbags - but who needs these when you have over 2 tonnes of steel armour around you? This is one of the last hand-built Mercedes-Benz vehicles, since they stopped doing this in 1973. The interior uses copious amounts of wood and leather. Some things that modern vehicles lack are timing chains, steel radiator tops, class and more. These cars are more reliable than anything on the road today if restored and taken care of. The resale values are very impressive and climbing every year.
German Muscle.
In 1972, North America was at its boiling point with muscle cars. Germany knew this very well and had no intentions on standing on the sidelines. Mercedes-Benz set this vehicle, along with the some of the /8 family, especially the 300SEL 6.3, to do battle with the muscle cars. These vehicles featured large, bulletproof reliable 8 cylinder engines that were fuel-injected and styling that understated their superior performance. Recall that emissions control were not that much of an issue yet, so these classic V8 engines have immense power. Adding to the powerful and modern engine selections, these cars have vastly superior handling, safety, technology and stopping power when compared to the Detroit competitors.
To add to this, the higher end Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles matched and even surpassed Rolls-Royce.
Horsepower: 225 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 279 lb/ft @ 3000 rpm
This vehicle still roasts the majority of 2004 vehicles, with it's "conservatively" rated 225 bhp electronically fuel-injected 4.5L (4,520cc) V8 engine. Conservative meaning that these cars have a lot more power than Mercedes-Benz ever released to the press - perhaps more importantly, insurance companies. Additionally, German auto manufacturers always rate the vehicle's power at the wheels, instead of at the engine or fly wheel, which American vehicles were and still are guilty of. The purposeful underestimation of the vehicle's power, combined with the classy styling caused other drivers to vastly underestimate these...well...Stuttgart Muscle Cars. Even Mercedes-Benz doesn't make them like this any more!
Just remember that if you see a classic Mercedes-Benz with the "stacked head lights", that denotes that it is the fastest car in that particular range.
How many bodies can you fit in this trunk. No trunk safety releases in sight - it's bad for business.
This is a wonderful shot of the prisine front seats. The passengers are pampered in a barrage of leather and precision hand carved wood. The wood and leather, of course, was chosen by the original owners that ordered this vehicle. The dual arm rests only give a clue to the copious amount of space that these vehicles afford their lucky owners.
One cannot explain the prestige and importance felt when sitting here. Go test drive one from your local Mercedes-Benz dealership today - oh wait, there's only about 750 of these cars left world wide. And yes, this car was babied and not driven very often - 90,322 original miles on this vehicle, and the vehicle is 32 years old.
One of two clues about this vehicle before it came into our tender care - it was imported to the United States to Canada at some point. Additionally, there was a Chilton's book found in the glove box, which is a good sign of a caring owner - then again, what heartless fool wouldn't have the heart not to take care of this beauty.
Limousine like seating for the back passengers - just imagine what the long wheel base version looks like (the L in SEL). If you know your Mercedes-Benzs of this era, this will mean a lot to you - the back armrest is about 1/3 larger than a standard armrest from a typical backseat of a lesser Mercedes-Benz. Privacy curtains to be installed?
More to come. Thanks for stopping by! Please rate us and sign our guest book and we'll probably return the favor.
