1963 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet

Few if any cars are as effortlessly classy as a W111 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet.

Unlike, say, a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow or Corniche convertible, there’s nothing that might be interpreted as being shouty or in any way vulgar about it.

It doesn’t say ‘Look at me!’ in a needy way.

It says ‘Please admire the owner’s exquisite taste’ in a quiet but confident manner.

Designed by the peerless Paul Bracq, the Cabriolet is as stately as a Spanish galleon…and has almost as much canvas to put up and down. 

The car’s very good all-round condition owes a good deal (£65,000 to be more accurate) to a previous owner who wisely entrusted the car’s 2021 restoration to the decidedly upmarket and highly regarded firm of Hilton & Moss.

Their work, and his willingness to part company with large sums of money, have paid handsome and enduring dividends in a car that looks stunning from every angle.

We have driven the car and can report that it drives every bit as impressively as it presents.

It starts, goes, handles, brakes and generally behaves exactly as you would hope and expect from a flagship Mercedes-Benz that hails from an era when the marque built up to a standard, not down to a price. 

We reported back to the vendor that the gear change felt a tad stiff. He informed us that he’d recently commissioned a local engineer to fabricate a new gear lever bush (finding an exact match in a replacement part was proving hard), and said engineer duly turned a bespoke part from Nylatron to a tolerance that would achieve a properly tight, and therefore long-lasting, fit. 

To cut a long story short, then, the gear lever will relinquish its initial stiffness when it’s got a few miles on the cogs. 

When the car left the factory it was white.

Today, having been resprayed as part of the Hilton & Moss restoration, it is a splendid shade of metallic pale blue that fair shimmers, gleams and pops and in the sunshine.

With its dazzling blue paint, black fabric hood, red hood tonneau and off-white Bakelite steering wheel, this is a car whose sunny countenance would be quite at home in Miami or the Côte d'Azur and, as a bare minimum, suggests to onlookers that you have houses there, even if in reality you only use the car for trips to your local Waitrose or the Dog & Duck. 

The bodywork, and there’s a lot of it on this long car, is reassuringly straight, true and free of any dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds of consequence. 

The shut-lines and panel gaps are consistent and even, and the doors close with plenty of Teutonic weight and certainty. 

The wheels, with their colour matched hubs, are in fine fettle, and the chrome rims are as good as everything else that was re-chromed during the restoration.

The wheels are shod in matching Michelin MXV rubber that looks to have a good deal of useful life left in it.

The black fabric hood was replaced in 2021 and is entirely beyond reproach. It goes up and down with a minimum of dissent or resistance, fits snugly, and the rear screen is clear and free of any significant marks or scratches.

The vibrant red vinyl hood tonneau cover is in excellent, pretty much as-new order.

The paintwork is generally very strong throughout and faults are few and far between. 

Nevertheless, it’s our job to find things to moan about, no matter how petty or pernickety, so here goes.

There’s a small scuff at the n/s/f of the bonnet; a little nascent blistering and a few scratches atop the n/s/f wing above the headlight; a shallow vertical crease towards the front of the nearside door; a small bubble near the badging on the boot lid; a shallow dink and a couple of scratches on the o/s/r wing; some paint chips to the rear edge of the driver’s door; and some scuffs at the front edge of the same door.

Any lights, lenses, badging or other exterior fixtures and fittings that needed replacing during the restoration were replaced and are, accordingly, in unimpeachable condition.

The car’s interior was thoroughly retrimmed and refurbished as part of the 2021 restoration and the deep, rich, red tones are appropriately sumptuous and indulgent for a car of this class and distinction.

The seats, front and back, are comfortable, supportive and have yet to earn more than the odd light crease here and there.

The red carpets and mats are new, and look it, and the hood lining is free of any nicks or tears that we can see.

All of the car’s delightful wood inserts and veneers are glossy and as yet untroubled by any fading or cracking, save for the front edge of the air vent atop the dashboard, which is starting to peel away.  

The only issue with the interior is the presence of some rather mysterious black marks on both door cards.

We’ve no doubt they could be persuaded to surrender if confronted with the right products and some vigorously applied elbow grease.

There are also a couple of black stains on the rear centre armrest.

As far as we and the vendor are aware, all dials, knobs, buttons, switches, levers and gauges respond promptly and accurately when pressed into action.

The vendor tells us that the radio is apparently a period-style Becker Europa head unit integrated with a high-end Bluetooth audio system. He uses the word ‘apparently’ because he has yet to successfully access its high-end features.

He says this could be user error. 

For what it’s worth, we’ve also failed on more than one occasion to unlock the advertised high-end Bluetooth utility on similar retro-style radios. 

We think the manufacturers are so good at concealing these units’ modern features that no-one without a PhD in electronics can find them.

You may have more luck.

The capacious boot is in good order and contains a full-sized spare wheel. 

Inside the fully-painted engine bay (the engine came out during the restoration), sits Mercedes-Benz’ tried, tested and trusted 2,195cc M127 straight-six engine, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission.

Everything on and ancillary to the engine is clean, dry, present and correct.

The undersides of the car are in generally very decent nick, although there is some non-structural (as stated in a previous MoT advisory) corrosion in a few places on the nearside.

The car comes with fully itemised bills, invoices and receipts attesting to the extensive work carried out by Hilton & Moss in 2021/2 at a cost of £65,000.

There are plenty of other, earlier invoices covering work carried out prior to that.

Hilton & Moss gave the car a thorough mechanical shakedown and overhaul in 2022 - around 3,000 miles ago - during which numerous engine and other components were replaced.

The car comes with a V5C, full sets of keys, a clear HPI report and an MoT certificate - with no advisories - that’s valid until 27th April 2027.

Just 2,729 units of the Mercedes-Benz W111 220SE Cabriolet were ever waved goodbye by Gunther and Wolfgang from the end of the production line at Sindelfingen.

They must have been very pleased with their work when this particular one left the building because, even 63 years later, it’s still going strong, looking sublime and winning hearts and minds wherever it goes.

The vendor is only parting company with the car because he’s not using it enough and he’s currently looking to consolidate his 20-strong collection of fine classics.

This gorgeous car has been subjected to lots of expensive heavy-lifting by other people….so you don’t have to. 

If you currently feel that your impeccable good taste and refined discernment is going under-appreciated, this car has all the class and style you need to swing public opinion firmly in your favour.

It’s a fabulous thing and we like it a great deal. 

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £75,000 - £85,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.