1975 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE

Sammlung Sonderklasse - Auction

Lot 008: 1975 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE

Vehicle description

ONE OF 150,593 EVER MADE

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL VERSION OF THE MODEL LINE

SUBLIME COLOR COMBINATION

ONLY THREE REGISTERED OWNERS

Technical details

Year: 1975

Chassis N°: 116.024-10-041496

Engine N°: 110.983-10-011656

Body N°: 15639

Production N°: 5005162

Paint: 419 ICON GOLD METALLIC

Interior: 963 VELOURS BRAZIL BROWN

Options

401 SINGLE SEATS

410 SLIDING ROOF, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED

466 CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM

482 HARDER SPRING SUSPENSION AND SHOCK ABSORBERS

592 HEAT-ABSORBING GLASS, WRAP-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE (COMPOUND GLASS), BAND FILTER

621 EXPORT LICENSE PLATE (ELIMINATION OF LICENSE PLATE MOULDING)

665 MODE OF PACKING, VE I

673 HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY

811 LOUDSPEAKER, SOUND PACKAGE IN THE REAR

Provenance

04/02/1975 GUENTHER KERKOW, GRAZ, AT

17/12/1986 PETER KARL RESCH, GRAZ, AT

20/03/2017 GEORG SARKOEZI, HAUSLEITEN, AT

Documents

AUSTRIAN TYPENSCHEIN (1975)

ORIGINAL SERVICE BOOKLET

About the model line

W 116

In the early 1970s, Friedrich Geiger was to deliver his final masterpiece: a new flagship Mercedes saloon. Development under Technical Director Hans Scherenberg had begun almost immediately after the introduction of the W 108 and W 109 series. At the very top of the specification sheet stood two priorities: passive safety and uncompromising comfort. No one understood the science of crumple zones and the safety passenger cell better than Béla Barényi. The Austrian-born engineer of Hungarian descent had already spent many years at Mercedes-Benz and was widely regarded as the father of passive safety.

The W 116 incorporated a remarkable number of innovations designed to stem the rapidly rising death toll on Germany’s roads. Compared with its predecessor, the body shell was significantly stronger, while every major surface inside the cabin – including the steering wheel – was carefully padded. A completely new feature was the front double-wishbone suspension. Developed and refined on the experimental C 111, its geometry achieved a zero scrub radius, greatly improving steering stability under heavy braking while simultaneously reducing stopping distances. From 1978 onwards, the W 116 also became the world’s first production car to offer an anti-lock braking system. The fuel tank was relocated above the rear axle, providing additional protection in the event of a collision while at the same time increasing luggage capacity.

Stylistically, the SL and SLC introduced in 1971 had already pointed the way forward, while under the bonnet Mercedes drew from its proven engine family. The overall result was nothing short of revolutionary – so much so that, for the first and still only time, a luxury saloon was crowned „Car of the Year“. With the W 116, Mercedes-Benz also officially introduced the name „S-Class.“ The „S“ stood for „Sonderklasse“, „special class“ in English. And that is precisely what the W 116 was.

In May 1975 came the ultimate expression of the S-Class, or, as Germany’s leading motoring magazine „auto, motor und sport“ famously described it, „the best car in the world.“ Mercedes took the formidable M100 V8 from the 600 and the legendary 300 SEL 6.3, subjected it to a thorough transformation and installed it beneath the bonnet of its new flagship. Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication and an enlarged displacement of 6.8 litres were enough to make even the most sporting competitors break into a cold sweat. With 286 horsepower and torque peaking at 550 Nm – never dropping below 490 Nm – the mighty 450 SEL 6.9 effortlessly exceeded 200 km/h. Yet it did so with remarkable discretion. Only the discreet „6.9“ badge and its wider tyres betrayed the king of the Autobahn.

Replacing the temperamental air suspension was a sophisticated hydropneumatic suspension with automatic self-levelling. Citroën sends its regards. The options list was virtually limitless, allowing customers to drive the price into truly dizzying territory. Breaking through the DM 100,000 barrier required little effort when the basic car already cost almost DM 70,000—roughly twice the price of the next model down. During its production run of just over five years, 7,380 buyers treated themselves to the ultimate Mercedes before the next generation of S-Class brought its reign to an end.

The 6.9 was a statement of intent. It showed the world what was technically possible when Mercedes-Benz not only wanted to achieve something, but possessed the ability to do so. It stood alone in its day, became a legend almost immediately and remains one to this day. Perhaps »auto, motor und sport« was right after all – it really was the best car in the world.

Auction information

Auction: 07 November 2026, 14:00

Auction house: Humer Granner & Co

Starting price: 4,000 EUR

Reserve: No reserve

Viewing: 05. November 2026 10:00 – 18:00, 06. November 2026 09:00 – 18:00, 07. November 2026 ab 09:00

Location: Gewerbeparkstraße 17, 4101 Feldkirchen an der Donau, AT

Bidding: In person · Online live · Telephone · Written bid

Auction registration: Schriftliches Kaufangebot, Als Telefonbieter, Online - live

Contact: Wolfgang Humer, +43 650 7262524 / Reinhard Granner, +43 699 17127272

About the auction

This Mercedes-Benz is part of the Sammlung Sonderklasse, one of the largest private Mercedes-Benz collections in Europe. The entire collection will be auctioned from 5 to 7 November 2026 in Feldkirchen an der Donau, Austria. All 83 cars are offered without reserve.

The collection also includes around 1,000 automobilia items and several fully furnished rooms, which will be auctioned on 6 and 7 November by Ni-Cola Classics. Please note that if you want to bid on automobilia, you must register in advance at nicola-ac.de. You can also view all lots at https://auction.nicola-ac.de/

The car auction starts on Saturday 7 November at 14:00, and you can bid in person or online. The cars can be viewed on Thursday 5 November from 10:00 to 18:00. Please note that if you want to bid on this car, you must register in advance with Humer Granner at https://hg.auction/auktionen/auktion-november-2026/.

You can order the catalogue at metropole-auction.com. It also serves as your admission ticket for two people. The catalogue does not replace registration with the auction house.

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Auction overview

Auction catalogue