Lot Ended
Description
Rare and desirable 3.5 version with floor-change automatic,
electric windows and sunroof; current owner 17 years; much recent expenditure
including top-end rebuild, new brakes, tyres and exhaust; driven 100 miles to
the sale
Launched in
1965, the W108 series S-Class saloon was the-top-of-the-range Mercedes of the
late 1960s and early ‘70s. Hailed by contemporary motoring journalists as the
finest luxury car in the world, it was built to a standard that put most rivals
to shame, with engineering designed to last for a lifetime – unlike the Mercs of
today...
Tailor-made for the well-heeled elite of
the Swinging Sixties, the mix of chrome, wood and leather oozed cigars and
champagne class. Initially available with a straight-six 2.8-litre engine (hence
the 280 boot badge), this was soon deemed a little underpowered and for 1970 a
200bhp 3.5-litre V8 version was launched that gave it the go to match the show.
Driving through a four-speed automatic gearbox, the 3.5 sprinted to 60mph in 8.5
seconds with a top speed of 131mph and could cruise the autobahn at three-figure
speeds all day.
Built in April 1971, this
LHD 3.5 was supplied new to the French market where it remained until 2002 when
it was acquired by a gent in the Czech Republic from whom our vendor acquired it
in 2007.
A professional mechanic and garage
proprietor, he has kept it on static display as part of his collection of fine
old Mercs ever since. In 2017 he treated it to a full top-end rebuild and over
the next six years he slowly went right through the car to get it in tip-top
mechanical condition, as detailed in invoices on file.
Many new parts have been fitted, highlights include: full service
with all new ignition parts, fluids, filters, V-belts, hoses etc; full brake
system overhaul including new Hella master cylinder and rebuilt calipers; new
fuel pump; new exhaust system; four new quality Michelin MXV-P tyres which alone
cost over £850 plus much else besides.
As you can
see in the photos, the car looks most attractive in metallic blue with a nicely
mellowed original tan leather interior. It has clearly been re-sprayed to a good
standard at some point in the past (before our vendor’s ownership) and the paint
has held up well, the only real blemish we noted being some slight
micro-blistering on the front left front wing and headlamp panel.
The
vendor states that the car now drives beautifully and it was driven some 100
miles to the sale. It has been starting promptly and running very nicely indeed
as we have moved it around on site, with healthy oil pressure. It is only
reluctantly for sale because the vendor has now reached that time of life when
he needs to thin down his collection.
One of the
few classics that can genuinely be used every day, this fine old S-Class is
on offer here at a ‘come and get me’ guide price. With values of 280SE V8 Coupes
and Cabriolets now in the stratosphere, it is surely only a matter of time
before the rare saloons follow suit so we would suggest this is one to buy and
hold on to!
For more information contact
James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]