1964 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEB Convertible

Lot details
Registration No: EBY115B
Chassis No: 111023-22-066963
Mot Expiry: June 2007

Launched in 1959, the 220 'Fintail' saloon (known as the 220 B in Mercedes design parlance) replaced the very successful 'Ponton' series of mid-range Mercedes-Benz saloons. Available in S & SE models (the SE featuring fuel injection), the range was quickly expanded in 1961 with the launch of 190 and 300 models to top and tail the range. As always with Mercedes coupe and convertible versions of the saloon followed, the very elegant Coupe was launched in 1961 with a Convertible hitting the UK market in July 1962. Available with a manual or automatic gearbox and fitted with the fuel-injected engines as standard, the Coupe/Convertible were unlike the saloons always fitted with front disc brakes as standard. Always very expensive and imported in limited quantities the 220 SE Coupe/Convertible remained a rare sight on UK roads, only featuring in the Mercedes price lists until October 1965 when they were replaced by the visually identical but larger engined and more powerful 250 SE versions.

Always the rarer of the 2 bodystyles, the 220 SE Convertible offered for sale here today is a 1964 car with automatic gearbox in white with a blue leather interior and blue hood. Showing a recorded mileage of 82,000 which the vendor believes but does not guarantee to be correct, we are told that this was one of a number of cars purchased by Mercedes-Benz UK to be used in showroom displays of historic Mercedes around the country. Purchased by the vendor from the Birmingham showroom who had unfortunately lost all the paperwork when moving premises, he was told that the car had been fitted with a new hood and lining at a cost of £3,500 and new carpets. Also including the original leather tonneau cover the car is described by the vendor as 'excellent' with regard to engine, transmission and bodywork and 'good' with regard to electrics, paintwork, interior trim, chassis and wheels/tyres. The car has an MOT and is taxed until June 2007.