1971 280SE 3.5

[Jimbo1907]

Incidentally, the shape of the roof of these cars (111 coupes) is so lovely that Saul Bellow wrote a scene into one of his novels where the main character's ex-GF or ex-wife, furious with him, bashes the roof of it in. Fortunately this was an imaginary 111 and not a real one.....LOL

[JonathanB]

Am I the only one curious to learn what the OP decided to do with this car?  If money were no object it'd be great to restore the beast, but such an undertaking is not for the faint of heart (or wallet).  To mix some metaphors, this didn't look to me to be a hill to die for.

[cynewan]

Am I the only one curious to learn what the OP decided to do with this car?  If money were no object it'd be great to restore the beast, but such an undertaking is not for the faint of heart (or wallet).  To mix some metaphors, this didn't look to me to be a hill to die for.

'this doesnt look like a hill to die  for' LOL is it because you need parts off of the car ? ....per your prior post

[Benz Dr.]

I've had my 3.5 over twenty years and it is a very expensive car to restore.  Yours looks to be too far gone, sadly.

If you decide to part it out, please let me know as I'd be interested in a set of original steel wheels and hubcaps.

How are these wheels different than others from the same time period? I think rims were date coded but not sure how far forward into production they did this. Do you know what size they are?

[JonathanB]

Very funny!  No, I may be a member of the California Bar but I wouldn't want to send a 3.5 Coupe off to the scrap heap just to get the wheels.  Mine already has more or less everything, including the funky little chrome handle to pull the license plate open to fill the gas tank!

[georgem]

I think you  are scaring this guy off throwing figures of $200K around - sure if you want to tow it to a resto firm and say I want the works - get ready to write a cheque for $200K BUT there are other options -one is do enough to make the car safe - both mechanically and rust wise and drive it - sure it won`t look pretty BUT this investment will allow time to decide whether the new owner likes it (or not) - if its not then the amount invested will be returned when it is on sold

[JonathanB]

How are these wheels different than others from the same time period? I think rims were date coded but not sure how far forward into production they did this. Do you know what size they are?

For no good reason (it seems) I always assumed that the W111 used a "better" or somehow stronger steel wheel than all the other MBZ cars of the same vintage.  On reflection, that was probably silly.  I think the size was 6.5 x 14.