1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet to 3.5 Spec

1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet to 3.5 Spec
Chassis no. 111.025-12-004122
3,499cc SOHC V8 Engine (see text)
Bosch Fuel Injection
230bhp at 6,050rpm
4-Speed Floor-Shift Automatic Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Top-of-the-line, hand built Mercedes-Benz of supreme quality
*Fitted with floor-shift and air conditioning
*Upgraded to 3.5 spec
*Subject of a 1000+ hour restoration

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This 280SE is no doubt better than when it left the factory in ways more than one. Not only was it restored to a very high level, but it was also painstakingly upgraded to 3.5 spec. Original delivered to the US with a 2.8 liter straight six, floor-shifted automatic, power steering, a Becker Grand Prix radio, and finished in Tobacco brown, it was found in South Carolina by its penultimate owner, Dennis Dammerman, about a decade ago.

Not long after buying the car, however, the desire for a bit more power motivated the decision to swap the original motor for the highly desirable and powerful 3.5-liter V8. Specialist Bob Ensign of Albany was tasked with executing the conversion. While he was at it, he was also asked to make the underside of the car a bit nicer and improve some of the cosmetics.

It soon became apparent that this was not going to be a small job. Rust was discovered in the floors and frame rails and it wasn't long before it was determined that the only solution was a complete restoration. Without wasting any time, the car was completely stripped and prepped for surgery. With the bare unit body attached to a rotisserie, the offending areas of rot were meticulously cut away with new panels constructed from 18-guage steel MIG welded into place. A similar job was performed on the frame, especially in the rear. The floorplans were replaced with correct panels sourced from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. Even the outer body, which was in decent shape overall, was tidied and redone to ensure proper panel alignment.

Prior to sending the car to paint, work was done to prepare the car for its future engine transplant. Given the number of subtle differences between the 3.5 and 2.8 that went beyond just the engine, a nice 280SE 3.5 Coupe was acquired and the appropriate bits were swapped between them to give the Cabriolet the V8 and the Coupe the straight six. Into the droptop went the numerous V8-specific brackets, speedometer, tachometer, and much more with the coupe leaving the shop as a good, running and driving car albeit down a bit on power from when it arrived.

With the basic changes made but before the car was finally assembled, the whole thing was sprayed with PPG's NCP270 rust-resistant, direct-to-metal primer. The primered body was smoothed over, sanded down with 180-grit paper, re-primered, and sanded down again with 400-grit paper. The paintwork was carefully executed with the trunk, engine bay, door sills and interior painted first with three layers of basecoat and three more of clear. The drivetrain—which had been rebuilt—was then installed. The areas that had already been painted were then masked off and the rest of the body was painted in the same way. Finally, the trunk lid, hood, and doors were painted while off the car but in the same orientation that they would sit on the car to ensure the metallic paint was uniform across the entire car. Chrome was sent to Graves Plating in Florence, Alabama and redone to show-quality.

With the exterior and mechanics in finished, the interior received some love. The leather was replaced with fresh hides from Townsend Leathers in Gloversville, New York. Everything was custom dyed to match the original interior. After over 1000 hours of work and 20 months of laboring, the car was completed. No long after rolling out of the shop, it was featured on the cover of the November 2010 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car (a copy of which is included with the car).

One would be hard pressed to find the differences between this example and a factory example of the 3.5. Even nearly a decade since its restoration was completed, the car still shows beautifully today. There are few classier ways to get from point A to point B then a droptop Mercedes, and a 280SE is near the top of even that lofty pyramid!