This 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL is finished in Red (576) over Red MB-Tex and has been owned by the current owner for seven years of which he added 10k miles on the car. The five-digit odometer shows just over 65k miles. Power is provided by a 2.8-liter M130 inline-six mated to a four-speed column shift automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Equipment includes front and rear power windows, driver side rear view mirror, RetroSound Europa headunit with bluetooth capability, and air conditioning. Recent services include a full engine rebuild in 2024 by a master Mercedes-Benz technician, new shocks and struts, engine mounts, fuel injection pump, cold start valve, rear subframe bushings, dash pad, and refinished interior wood trim by Madera Concepts. Photos of the engine rebuild accompany the car along with records. This 280SEL is now offered for sale by the current owner with recent service records, spare parts, tool kit, a full-size spare, service manuals, Mercedes-Benz user manual, outdoor car cover, spare Becker Europa radio, and a clean Maryland title.
The exterior is finished in Red (576) with chrome trim lining the front and rear bumpers, beltline and windows. The body was repainted in the factory original color in 2012 by the previous owner. The brightwork shows well without damage and the polished exhaust tips show intact and in good condition. The seller notes light rockchips on the front end from regular use. The glass is heat-insulated from the factory. This car is a factory slicktop which is rare on a long wheelbase W108 and has a driver side exterior rearview mirror.
The 14” steel wheels wear American Classic tires measuring 205/75 on all four corners with date codes from 2021. The wheels are fitted with chrome hub caps with body color centers with the Red paint showing in excellent condition. New rear-end bushings have been refreshed as well as new shocks front and rear. There are disc brakes on each corner of the car that provide stopping power.
The cabin is upholstered in Red MB-Tex and features wood veneer throughout. The brown dashboard shows in good condition and the seller reports the wood was sent out to Madera Concepts for refinishing and was paired with a new dash cap all done by their local Mercedes-Benz dealership. Interior features include power windows, a RetroSound Europa bluetooth capable radio and Thermo King climate control with functioning air conditioning. The seating surfaces show well and are accented by Red loop carpeting showing no sun damage, red door cards, and a cream perforated headliner. Red & Black Coco Mats adorn each footwell. There are two cracks on the rear passenger doorcard. Power windows are optioned and available on all four doors.
A black two-spoke bakelite steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer which sits alongside gauges for fuel level as well as coolant and oil temperature with an analog clock mounted in the center. The analog odometer currently reads just over 65k miles with approximately 10k miles being added by the current owner over the past seven years. Additional horn pads are included in the sale.
Power is provided by a 2.8-liter M130 inline-six which is factory rated at 180 horsepower and 193 lb-ft of torque which is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic column shift transmission. This example has been maintained by The Automaster Mercedes-Benz Service in Shelburne, Vermont. Recent services under the current owner include:
Service and repair records from the Mercedes dealership during the seller’s ownership are available to view in the gallery including previous ownership records. Detailed underside photos are also available in the gallery.
This 280SEL is now offered for sale by the current owner with recent service records, spare parts, tool kit, a full-size spare, service manuals, Mercedes-Benz user manual, outdoor car cover, the original Becker Europa radio, and a clean Maryland title.
Long wheelbase. M130 inline-six. Red on red. Slicktop. No air suspension. This is the enthusiast spec W108. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start at the top: engine rebuild was done just last year by a master Mercedes technician with pictures included showing the job being done. The M130 engine is incredibly tough and reliable and easy to work on. There’s a lot of room around it to turn a wrench and parts are available. Plus they sound fabulous. The long wheelbase chassis adds better ride comfort on the highway and tons of leg room for rear passengers. The MB-Tex is basically invincible and still looks new. With the Coco Mats and Madera Concepts refinished wood, there’s nothing to argue against on the interior, especially with the RetroSound headunit. We also love the slicktop spec. You don’t have to worry about water intrusion that’s so common on these cars. The red on red is a spectacular combination and rarely seen. With about 9,000 of these made, it’s an uncommon sight to see one so sorted. This is the way we’d have our W108. There’s zero doubt on that.
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12 Comments
@ClassicAutoSMTH thanks appreciate itThanks to all of you--with congratulations and a handshake to the winning bidder.Alhamdlelah "all praise to the all mighty first and last" Then thanks to everyone. And the bidders hope you find what better. And very special thanks to the owner, Been gentle and well connecting.Entertaining auction and gorgeous car. Congrats @nyaze$25,500 bid placed by @Nyaze
$25,000 bid placed by @phcook
$23,250 bid placed by @Nyaze
$23,000 bid placed by @phcook
$22,250 bid placed by @Nyaze
$22,000 bid placed by @phcook
$20,050 bid placed by @oldman
$19,500 bid placed by @phcook
$19,250 bid placed by @oldman
Been watching this all week and wondering who will end up with it. This is a VERY special color combination that we've never seen before in 30 years of business....A hopeful congrats to whoever ends up with it.$19,000 bid placed by @phcook
$18,750 bid placed by @Nyaze
$18,500 bid placed by @wrjasheville
$18,250 bid placed by @Nyaze
Thank you Oldman and all other bidders. It’s a great car and deserves a good home.Thats all I got folks..$18,000 bid placed by @oldman
$17,750 bid placed by @Nyaze
$17,500 bid placed by @oldman
Car recently detailed and treated with ceramic coating by Prestige Auto Vault in Easton, MD.$17,250 bid placed by @Nyaze
Thanks to all of you bidding on this Mercedes classic. I am happy to answer questions.$17,000 bid placed by @oldman
$16,000 bid placed by @phcook
$15,750 bid placed by @jgcars1453
A photo of the VIN plate has been added to the gallery.$15,500 bid placed by @Nyaze
$15,250 bid placed by @Guilac72
$15,000 bid placed by @oldman
$14,250 bid placed by @Eclecticollector
$14,000 bid placed by @oldman
$13,250 bid placed by @Eclecticollector
$13,000 bid placed by @oldman
$777 bid placed by @pablo76
Dear BEPLA, Thanks for your note. You are right, this car is rated at 180 horsepower and 193 lb/ft of torque, as it says in the listing above. A great combination for driving comfort and cruising. See the article "Overlooked Treasures" by Richard Simonds in the STAR, November 11, 2019. He praises these "unsung modernist sedans" combining "the aestehtic magic of Paul Bracq with advanced engineering and robust build quality."This is a fuel-injected car - So it should be listed at the factory rating of 180hp. & 193 lb/ft torque A carbuerated engine of this timeframe would be 157hp & 181lb/ft torque.