Fantasy Junction

Description

1961 Mercedes 220SE Coupe
s/n 11102110019309, engine no. 12798410001310
Dark Blue with Parchment Leather Interior

Introduced in 1961, the W111 and W112 generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class replaced the famed “Adenauer” cars as well as the Ponton cars. They incorporated a number of advanced technical and convenience features including sophisticated independent suspension all around, fuel injection, and disc brakes. In pillarless coupe form they are particularly elegant, and this example’s appeal is further enhanced by its elegant color combination and the rare fitment of a manual transmission.

This particular car was in California for most of its life, for fifty years from new until 2011. Its original owner kept it until the 1970s, and lived in Ventura, California. He sold it to its next long term owner in Thousand Oaks, California, who kept the car until July of 2002. He owned a Mercedes repair shop and continuously cared for the car, including an engine rebuild in the 1990s. Since then, it has seen considerable other work, including rebuilt rear axles, rear brakes, fuel system, cooling system, and freshening to the engine compartment. The car was repainted, the wood refinished, and some upholstery work performed in 2009. Most recently, the car has been owned by a collector with many significant blue chip cars, as well as several other Mercedes including a 220SE Cabriolet and two 280SLs. During his ownership, the car has been maintained at no expense, with regular servicing, including tune ups, steering damper, front brake rotors, tie rod ends, drive shaft support and bearing, shifter bushings, new seat belts, new exhaust hangers and bushing mounts, new transmission mount, new batter, servicing the steering box, alignment, sway bar bushings, and various other jobs.

The car is in nice driver level condition, with attractive, glossy paint over straight panels. The fit and gaps are generally good, although the driver’s door sits a bit proud at the trailing edge. The paintwork was done to good driver standards and has few signs of wear or aging. The chrome varies in condition. The bumpers are very good to excellent while the remaining chrome shows some light pitting and haze. The car has been fitted with the attractive and desirable European headlamps, which are in very good condition, as are the remaining lights and lenses. The glass is generally good, though the windscreen shows light road wear and some wiper marks.

The interior is excellent overall, with high quality leather that was correctly redone with the right pleating and perforation pattern. The carpets and headliner are also of the correct material although the carpets show some light soiling in the driver’s footwell. The wood has been beautifully restored, though the finish on the instrument binnacle has some cracks and the varnish has come off on the speaker grille. The remaining wood is beautiful. The door panels are excellent and the switches and instruments are in excellent shape and the car has a period Blaupunkt Europa radio. The steering wheel is excellent other than some crazing to the star badge and one crack in the horn button pad upholstery. Some of the chrome shows some deterioration to the finish.

The engine shows evidence of recent work including much new replating. The engine is fairly clean and is in nice driver level condition, appearing neither neglected nor excessively dirty. It is generally correct in appearance. The trunk appears unrestored and is in solid condition, particularly the floor, which is vulnerable to corrosion on these cars.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a beautifully crafted pillarless coupe in a supremely elegant color combination, fitted with rare manual transmission and European headlamps. The quality of these cars is self-evident, and there is an effortless grace to this car that perfectly exemplifies the days when Mercedes built some of the finest and most distinctive cars available, bar none. This car has excellent history, is structurally excellent, and has seen considerable recent expenditure. It comes with its old six digit blue California license plates and also dark blue Coco mats

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608