Mercedes-Benz
280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet (W 111)

Why it matters

The 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet is the last of the 1961 W 111 convertibles and carries the new 3.5-litre V8 engine, with 200 hp and electronic fuel injection. It was the third most exclusive convertible of the 111 and 112 series with 1,232 built, and when it ended in 1971 the Sindelfingen convertible line closed without a direct successor; open-car buyers were left with the two-seat SL.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

• Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet (W 111) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: nakhon100 · CC BY 2.0
• Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet (W 111) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: nakhon100 · CC BY 2.0
• Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet (W 111) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: nakhon100 · CC BY 2.0

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The 3.5-litre convertible and coupé were presented in September 1969. The archive gives production from August 1969 (series from November 1969) to July 1971 and list prices of DM 34,132.50 in September 1969, DM 35,631 in August 1970 and DM 37,351.50 in January 1971. Compared with the 280 SE the grille was lower and wider and the bumpers gained rubber strips, but the eight- and six-cylinder cars looked the same from outside.

RM Sotheby's describes each top as requiring more than 16 hours of hand labour and says about 13 cars a week were finished; it calls the car the marque's last truly hand-built model and counts 347 produced for the 1971 model year.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The archive type is 111.027 (design name W 111 E 35/1) with the M 116 E 35 / 116.980 V8 engine. Features recorded in the archive: 6 J x 14 rims with 185 V 14 tyres (light-alloy wheels optional from August 1970), 2,750 mm wheelbase, 4,905 mm length, 1,420 mm height and 1,650 kg kerb weight, and a four-speed automatic as the only gearbox. The V8 car has no external differences from the six-cylinder 280 SE, so the engine number and type plate are the way to tell them apart; Gooding cites a Mercedes-Benz Classic Zertifikat to confirm a matching-numbers engine. The Australian RHD registry says only 71 right-hand-drive 3.5 coupé and cabriolet examples were made (a figure it presents as legend).

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet / W 111 E 35/1, 1969 - 1971 (model page) Level A Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)

   • Units produced : 1232
   • Engine type : M 116 E 35 / 116.980 (Engine)
   • Configuration : front, longitudinal; vertical (Engine)
   • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 8 / 90° V (Engine)
   • Total displacement : 3499 cc (Engine)
   • Bore x Stroke : 92 x 65.8 mm (Engine)
   • Compression ratio : 9.5 (Engine)
   • Number of valves / arrangement : 1 intake, 1 exhaust / overhead (Engine)
   • Fuel system : Manifold injection, electronically controlled (Bosch D-Jetronic) (Engine)
   • Rated output : 200 hp at 5800 rpm (Engine)
   • Rated torque : 29.2 mkg at 4000 rpm (Engine)
   • Transmission type : planetary gear system (Transmission and Performance)
   • Gearing : 4-speed automatic transmission (Transmission and Performance)
   • Gear ratios : I. 3.98; II. 2.39; III. 1.46; IV. 1.0; R. 5.47 (Transmission and Performance)
   • Final drive ratio : 3.69; later 3.46 (Transmission and Performance)
   • Driven wheels : Rear wheels (Chassis and Drivetrain)
   • Frame design : Floor assembly / steel unit body (Chassis and Drivetrain)
   • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Chassis and Drivetrain)
   • Rear-wheel suspension : single-joint swing axle with hydropneumatic compensating spring and level control (Chassis and Drivetrain)
   • Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic dual-circuit ... four-wheel disc brakes (Chassis and Drivetrain)
   • Steering : Recirculating-ball power steering (Chassis and Drivetrain)
   • Wheelbase : 2750 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
   • Length : 4905 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
   • Width : 1845 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
   • Height : 1420 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
   • Front / rear track : 1482 / 1485 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
   • Kerb weight : 1650 kg (Dimensions and Weights)
   • Maximum speed : 205 km/h (Transmission and Performance)
   • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 9.4 s (Transmission and Performance)
   • Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 82 l (Engine)
   • Fuel consumption : 13.5 l (Transmission and Performance)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet Level A

   • 1232 cabriolets

   Accessed 2026-11-12