First shown at Frankfurt in 1965, the ‘S’ Class Mercedes-Benz range was outwardly distinguishable from preceding models by its new, sleeker bodyshell with lower roof/waist lines and increased glass area. Top of this ‘New Generation’ line-up was the 300SEL, a six-cylinder, 3-liter, long-wheelbase luxury sedan that, its excellence notwithstanding, was always a likely candidate for Mercedes’ new 3.5-liter V8 when that became available. The latter debuted at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show in the 300SEL and the 280SE Coupé/Convertible, its extra ‘horses’ boosting the former’s top speed to 127mph while trimming two seconds from the six-cylinder model’s 0-60mph time, a worthwhile improvement. Its straight-line performance apart, the 300SEL 3.5 was a most luxuriously appointed automobile endowed with superb ride quality thanks to its lengthened wheelbase and self-levelling air suspension. It was the only one of its 3.5-liter V8-engined contemporaries to sell in the USA, where a mere 1,039 of these exclusive cars found customers between 1969 and 1972 when production ceased. Finished in rarely seen fawn metallic, this one-owner 300SEL 3.5 was made to the order of Colonel Arthur P Von Deesten, who ordered it from Hollywood Mercedes in October 1969. The car arrived from Germany on July 1st 1970 and is offered with five folders containing its entire service history from that date to the present day. Detailed every four months by Mark Wintermantle, of Classic Cars, it benefits from an $8,500 interior re-trim in red-piped cognac leather to the highest standard, carried out by Thomas Top & Upholstery, of Los Angeles circa 4-5 years ago. To maintain originality, a sample was sent to Mercedes-Benz in Germany and the leather sourced from there. Thomas Top & Upholstery also fitted all black channels around the windows ($1,600). Worthy of particular attention is this car’s interior woodwork of Circassian burl walnut veneer - arguably the finest of all walnuts - with which it was supplied new from the factory. The veneers have been re-polished, while other noteworthy features include Michelin tires and a Teletrac tracking device. Repainted and polished by Dick Brown, this car has won a ‘first’ at the Santa Barbara Concours and a third in class, also at Santa Barbara.
First shown at Frankfurt in 1965, the ‘S’ Class Mercedes-Benz range was outwardly distinguishable from preceding models by its new, sleeker bodyshell with lower roof/waist lines and increased glass area. Top of this ‘New Generation’ line-up was the 300SEL, a six-cylinder, 3-liter, long-wheelbase luxury sedan that, its excellence notwithstanding, was always a likely candidate for Mercedes’ new 3.5-liter V8 when that became available. The latter debuted at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show in the 300SEL and the 280SE Coupé/Convertible, its extra ‘horses’ boosting the former’s top speed to 127mph while trimming two seconds from the six-cylinder model’s 0-60mph time, a worthwhile improvement. Its straight-line performance apart, the 300SEL 3.5 was a most luxuriously appointed automobile endowed with superb ride quality thanks to its lengthened wheelbase and self-levelling air suspension. It was the only one of its 3.5-liter V8-engined contemporaries to sell in the USA, where a mere 1,039 of these exclusive cars found customers between 1969 and 1972 when production ceased. Finished in rarely seen fawn metallic, this one-owner 300SEL 3.5 was made to the order of Colonel Arthur P Von Deesten, who ordered it from Hollywood Mercedes in October 1969. The car arrived from Germany on July 1st 1970 and is offered with five folders containing its entire service history from that date to the present day. Detailed every four months by Mark Wintermantle, of Classic Cars, it benefits from an $8,500 interior re-trim in red-piped cognac leather to the highest standard, carried out by Thomas Top & Upholstery, of Los Angeles circa 4-5 years ago. To maintain originality, a sample was sent to Mercedes-Benz in Germany and the leather sourced from there. Thomas Top & Upholstery also fitted all black channels around the windows ($1,600). Worthy of particular attention is this car’s interior woodwork of Circassian burl walnut veneer - arguably the finest of all walnuts - with which it was supplied new from the factory. The veneers have been re-polished, while other noteworthy features include Michelin tires and a Teletrac tracking device. Repainted and polished by Dick Brown, this car has won a ‘first’ at the Santa Barbara Concours and a third in class, also at Santa Barbara.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
