Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Cabriolet Review and Buyer's Guide

“The six-cylinder SEb series Mercedes-Benz occupies an interesting middle ground in the range of collectible Mercedes. Models prior to the SEb are classics, but they come with certain problems which only a true enthusiast will see as part of the enjoyment of the hobby. Cars after the SEb were more modern and lacked the special feeling that comes from a link with the past as well as the handcrafted material and quality work of low-production cars.

“The 220SEb coupes and convertible contained a very nice balance of old and new. Real leather, wool carpets and beautifully hand veneered wood trim were all standard. The 220SEb was a low-production model with fewer than 17,000 coupes and convertibles produced from 1960 to 1965. With this cam a very dependable, easily maintained mechanical system with fuel injection, disc brakes, automatic transmission and a smooth ride.” – The Illustrated Mercedes-Benz Buyer”s Guide

By the time the final, 2.8-liter version of this six-cylinder Mercedes Cabriolet arrived on the scene in 1968, it was a thoroughly sorted vehicle. According to Contributing Editor Alex Dearborn, “These Cabriolets are sound even when they might appear old and tattered on the outside. You can take a 280 Cab and flog it on a back road, and you”ll be amazed at the lack of shakes or rattles, and the way it soaks up bumps with no cowl shake.”

The 280SE Cabriolets were one of the last five-passenger M-B cabriolets manufactured until the current 300CE. The final version 280SE 3.5, with its 3.5 liter V8, has become quite a desirable and therefore expensive car. For thousands of dollars less, the 2.8-liter six-cylinder version can provide the same level of comfort with an adequate amount of acceleration for all but the most insecure owner. In fact, if it is raw acceleration you are after, perhaps some type of untamed American muscle car would better suit you.

The two things to be aware of when purchasing a 280 Cab are rust and “truth in mileage.” As it is a unibody car, be sure to examine the floors carefully. Typical rust spots include the rockers, behind the rear wheels and around the headlights. There is no “inherently unreliable” part of a 280, unlike the waterpumps in Alfa Romeo GTV6s or the original piston problems with MGA Twin Cams. However, one thing to watch for is wear in the rear hydraulic compensator – if the 280 seems to sit low in the rear, you could be looking at a repair job of several hundred dollars.

Unfortunately, the most unreliable element in the 280 process is likely to be the seller. As M-Bs are often driven with regularity, it is not uncommon to come across cars that have covered up to half a million miles. This is where an M-B specialist can be of great assistance. He/she can tell you whether the example you are considering has really covered only the 75,000 miles indicated, or whether the lack of a sixth digit on the odometer is hiding another one, two or three hundred thousand miles of wear.

Restoring a 280 Cab can be expensive. A new top, complete with horsehair padding and rubber seals can easily run $5,000. Engine overhauls will cost $10,000, re-veneering the dash $3,000 and a leather interior another $6,000.

While the 280SE Cabriolet will never have the same glittering allure of its high-flying 3.5 liter V8 stablemate, it remains a good investment at current prices, and should provide thousands of miles of reliable, pleasurable, sophisticated motoring for the M-B enthusiast. As with many complicated to restore cars, buying a project makes no economic sense.

The 1968-69 “high-grille” models are not as visually appealing as the 1970 more modern looking “low-grille” cars, so if your pocketbook is more sensitive than your sense of aesthetics, you can save some money by buying on of the early cars.

The chances of finding a decent restorable car, investing the time and money to make it into a strong #2 condition, and coming out ahead financially are nearly nil. Very good #2 condition (on the accepted scale of 1-5) high-grille 280 Cabriolets can be found in the $30,000 range, with concours examples commanding nearly $45,000. Low-grille 280 Cabs in the same condition bring $40,000, with concours quality another $20,000 beyond that.

In ten years, the best low-grille six-cylinder cars will cross the $95,000 barrier, and the high-grille cars will fetch $75,000. Add another $25,000 to the equation if it”s a 3.5 liter V8 that is the cabriolet of your dreams.

In all honesty, if you have only $20,000 to spend for a collectible M-B, you would be better off finding a presentable 190SL or perhaps a strong #2 230SL rather than venture into the world of $15,000 interiors that the 280 Cabriolets represent.

M-B Cabriolets have a dedicated following, and they will always be willing to pay a premium price for these exceptional motorcars that provide both the exhilaration of open-air transport along with the capable handling and safety of the three-pointed star.