Lot details
Registration No: 49 JDM
Chassis No: 11102122066904
Mot Expiry: Sept 2012

Successor to the well respected but somewhat staid 'pontoon' range, the W110/111 series was introduced in May 1959. Soon nicknamed 'Fintails' due to their overt American and Italianate styling cues, the new models were built with safety and passenger comfort as a priority. Charged with translating Paul Bracq's elegant sketches into production reality Karl Wilfert (body design) worked closely with fellow department heads Josef Muller (engines) and Rudi Uhlenhaut (chassis dynamics) to ensure that the W110/111 met chief engineer Fritz Nallinger's stringent expectations. Built around a monocoque, it featured independent coil and wishbone front suspension and a swing axle rear (the latter being tempered by a transverse leaf spring that brought welcome extra composure under cornering). Exhaustively tested on German, Austrian and Italian roads prior to release, the 'Fintail' proved to be so well honed that the factory team came first, second and third in the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally. First shown to the press in February 1961 at the re-opening of the Daimler-Benz museum, the 220SE Coupe was notably rakish. Powered by a 2195cc, straight-six OHV engine developing some 120bhp and 151lbft of torque, the big four-seater coupe was reputedly capable of 110mph. A total of some 14,173 2195cc-engined 220SE Coupes were built between 1961 and 1965.

This splendid-looking right-hand drive 220SE Coupe was manufactured for the UK market in the August of 1964 and first registered on September 24th that year. It sports Red bodywork teamed with a Light Grey interior and is equipped with the optional four-speed automatic gearbox. It has been the subject of an extensive restoration and is now being sold with current V5C a selection of old V5s and MOTs, and one valid into September.