Mercedes-Benz 280SE Saloon (W116)

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The W116 Mercedes-Benz was the company’s first offering to bear the official ‘S’ Class nametag.

Design work for their ‘range-topper’ started back in 1996, although it wasn’t until 1970 that the design was finally given the go-ahead. It incorporated numerous firsts, including wrap-around lights, a padded dashboard with deformable switchgear and a monocoque designed around the safety-cell principal, locating the petrol tank from the rear of the car to a safer position above the back axle.

First cars used a Solex carburettored straight-six DOHC engine, a much improved D-Jetronic fuel injected version arriving just two years after launch in the SE models. This upped power output to 182bhp, giving a genuine 120mph Autobahn top speed, the dash to 60mph taking 10.5 seconds, a very respectable figure given the size and weight of the beast.

Built with absolutely no compromise to engineering integrity, the W116 paved the way for the ‘S’ Class to become the most successful luxury car of all time, dominating the segment with its range of engines which included the iconic 6.9-litre V8 in the 450SEL. Immortalised in the heart-stopping car-chase in the hit film Ronin, other ‘S’ Class exponents included Frank Sinatra, J F Kennedy, Sean Connery and James Hunt – and he certainly knew a good car when saw it.

This 1974 SE was purchased by the vendor to add to his sizable collection of pre-1980 Mercedes models. A recent reduction in available storage space has meant that something has to go and on the 'last in, first out' principle, his 280SE is up for grabs.

Reputed to have had an engine and gearbox rebuild shortly before purchase, although we could find no paperwork to support this, it is MOTd until January 2016 and was driven to Brightwells from Cardiff without any issues.