1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet

Today, the 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet is both a sought after collection piece for the Mercedes-Benz aficionado as well as the ultimate classic experience in power-driven luxury cruising with the top down. The 3.5 Cabriolet has long been considered a car that bridges the gap between the classic and modern eras; generally speaking, it is one of the most widely desired cars built since the inception of Mercedes-Benz, with ease of use, comfort and elegant looks rolled into a 5-passenger luxury ride.

As one of only 1,232 examples built, and one of just 802 designated for import into the United States, this 3.5 Cabriolet left the Mercedes-Benz factory on June, 24 1970 and was dressed in 423 Tobacco Brown paint complimented by sought-after 250 Cognac leather. The dash of the car was supplied with burled walnut wood and was fitted from new with desirable features such as a 4-speed automatic transmission, power windows and factory-installed Behr air conditioning for the ultimate combination of care-free luxury implements. Further, the car came with instruments in English as a USA version, an outside rearview mirror on the left, Becker Europa radio, automatic antenna, heat insulated glass, white wall tires and a soft top in brown fabric.

According to the original ownership title and other original ownership documents kept within this 3.5 cabriolet’s exhaustive history file, the car was purchased new by G.A. Giovannitti of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Giovannitti would keep the car until 1976, at which point the car was sold via Ascot Imported Cars of Swickley, PA to Denise Nardini of Lorain, Ohio. In March of 1987, after a decade-plus in the ownership of Denise Nardini, this 3.5 Cabriolet, which to this day retains its perfectly patina’d original Cognac leather as installed by Mercedes-Benz in 1970, was purchased by Sara Lutz of Woodstock Vermont. Ms. Lutz would go on to own the car for the next 24 years, during which she fastidiously maintained the car with detailed receipts documenting her care for the 280SE. In 2011, this 3.5’s most recent private owner, a Wall Street executive with a penchant for original Mercedes-Benz classics, purchased the car from Ms. Lutz and kept it in New York City as a sparsely used but always maintained family driver.

Worthy of note as an expression of the unrelenting care that this 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet has received since it was purchased new, is the impressive condition of the factory installed Roser Cognac leather still retained in the interior of the car. In addition to the supple original leather, the burled walnut wood dash is in like-new condition with no noticeable sun damage or cracking present, speaking to the consistent indoor storage the car has been treated to over the years. The Tobacco Brown paint on the exterior of the car is in good condition throughout with signs of use leading to a lovely level of patina; paintwork that was performed as maintenance in the original ‘as new’ color as per the data card.

The record keeping in this W111 Cabriolet’s history file is noteworthy facet of this Mercedes-Benz’ appeal. Within the file are original titles and bills of sale documenting the car’s ownership history from new, leaving no doubt as to who it was that owed the car and kept the 3.5 Cabriolet in such excellent condition for the past 50+ years. Comprehensive service record keeping within the history file is punctuated by twenty-four different mileage marker recordings between the years 1976 and 2024, which cements the originality of the mileage today at 53,457; the original mileage of the car in concert with the superb condition of the original 250 Cognac leather says all that need be said about the loving care shown to this special Mercedes since the day it was brought home from the dealership in 1971.

Presenting today in beautiful unrestored condition in the classic W111 original colors of 423 Tobacco Brown paint over an incredible original 250 Cognac leather interior, this limited production 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet offers modern luxury in an iconic classic model with 4 speed automatic shifting, power windows and Behr air conditioning, all ex-factory. Powerful and precise, the 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet model has become famous in collector circles for its ability to bridge the gap between classic and modern and for its 5-passenger comfort with ample power under the hood. Suitable for preservation showing because of its impressive original interior, this fine Mercedes-Benz comes with books, tools, exceptional record keeping and a copy of the factory data card; ready for new adventures under new ownership on the open roads.