Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5-Litre V8 Coupe

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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 other manufacturers could only gawp at, setting a benchmark of engineering excellence that has not been surpassed to this day. Allied to this bank vault solidity was an aura of restrained Teutonic opulence that made it an instant hit with the diplomatic corps from Moscow to Mombasa.

Better still was the coupe version, a fantastically elegant pillarless design by Paul Bracq that was tailor-made for the artistic elite of the Swinging Sixties. The mix of chrome, wood and leather still oozes a cigars and champagne class that makes you feel like a film star every time you slip behind the wheel.

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, top speed was an impressive 130mph with a 0-60 time of 10 seconds. Only in production for two years, just 3,270 3.5-litre Coupes were made, of which only 245 were right-hand drive, and all are highly sought after today.

First registered in February 1971, this particular car was first owned by Michael Winters, one half of famous Sixties comedy duo, Mike and Bernie Winters. The original sales invoice shows that he paid £7,193 for the car, trading it in against a Jensen Interceptor for which he was allowed £4,300 – this at a time when a brand new Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster cost just £3,100.

Since then the car has only had four further keepers, the third owning it for 17 years, the fourth for 10 years and the vendor (who bought it from Brightwells) for two-and-a-half years. The car has always been in light regular use and is said to drive superbly with a notably sweet engine, having been well-maintained with regular servicing by marque specialist Roger Edwards of Wembley while in the previous ownership.

The body appears straight and sound with good chromework. The original black leather interior has been sympathetically refurbished in the current ownership, the gearbox has also been fully overhauled, the engine mountings replaced and a new set of HT leads fitted.

It comes with many bills for routine servicing back to the 1980s, other work including a full brake overhaul and front suspension rebuild in 2002 and a new exhaust system and radiator in 2003. A Toad security system has also been fitted and a Kenwood CD player discreetly installed that is designed to play through the original Blaupunkt radio although the vendor advises that it is not working at present.

Many old MOTs back to 1982 show the mileage rising from 3,100 miles at that date to some 16,000 miles today (the clock presumably having gone round once prior to 1982). Although the last MOT and tax disc expired in February 2013, these bureaucratic niceties have not been required since the car went to its present home in the south of Ireland and the vendor sees no reason why obtaining a new MOT should be any more than a formality.

Currently on Irish plates, it should also be no more than a formality to return it to its UK registration number, KWE 748J, these plates still being in the boot of the car. Values of this rare and elegant model have rocketed in recent years and this sound and useable example looks like excellent value at the guide price suggested.

PS: This car was driven to the sale from Dublin with no problems whatsoever.