Classic Mercedes W108 Chassis 280SE: Style & Class on a Budget
If we had the choice, we’d all have a 300 SL Gullwing. Since that’s not the case, a 280SE makes a fine collector Benz, too.
There’s a strong popularity on MBWorld for the all-conquering might of current AMG models. But, many of us know our roots and appreciate the classics just as much. In fact, the Panamerica grill is a nod back to the 300 SL. But that car is for sale at unobtainable prices in the rare instance one is for sale. For a classic Mercedes, it’s tough to find a sensible car. But there is a diamond to be found at a discount. And it s actually one of Mercedes’ own flagship models.
CNET Roadshow‘s Kyle Hyatt brought our attention to this W108 280SE, which he owns. This is a humble, but still a great car. In fact, it sits as a direct predecessor to the Mercedes S-class, so it’s still an avant-garde ride. And as we found out, at a reasonable budget.
A quick look at various classic car outlets show you can pick up a clean one for less than $20,000. Sure there’s other clean cars you can get for less, but they aren’t a Mercedes-Benz. And there’s better W108/W109 models out there, but you’ll never find them this inexpensive.
So what do you get for that kind of dough? Well you get a clean S-class, and in this instance with green paint and brown leather interior. Power comes from the venerable M130 2.8 liter inline 6. The E, for “einspritzung” gave this engine fuel injection and a stout 158 horsepower. Don’t think that it was an AMG rocket. The sprint to 60 takes over 10 seconds. And a top speed was a humble 120 mph. The car does boast modern tech for its age. A 4-speed automatic is impressive for a car from 1970, and so are the 4-wheel disc brakes. Plus you get air conditioning, and a huge amount of room in a not-so-huge-car (by modern standards). What’s not to love?
Cars this old are cool no matter what. And that’s the main appeal here. No, there’s no motorsport pedigree, and there’s better models of the same chassis. But according to wikipedia, the 280S and 280SE were the volume sellers of the W108 chassis. That leaves these models relatively un-loved, and very inexpensive.
Photos: CNET Roadshow
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