1966 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE

OVERVIEW

1966 Mercedes-Benz 250SE
VIN: 111021 10 085193

California Car
Complete nut and bolt restoration
Unparalleled example in the Mercedes-Benz community
Quite possibly the finest 250SE in existence
Rare 4-speed manual transmission

This Mercedes 250 SE is an original southern California car that has been restored to the highest level. The accident and rust free coupe was disassembled in 1989 by then owner, Steve Serrels of Orange County, CA, and stripped down to its component parts for a nut and bolt restoration. Serrels, who is recognized as one of the finest painters in California, did the body and paintwork. As it is with many ambitious restorations, this project stalled, and by the late '90s the car had been stored away in a climate-controlled garage.

In 2012 Serrels' friend Daniel Landeros, who is well known for finishing Mercedes restoration projects, resurrected the enterprise. Over the next 8 months the 250 SE was reassembled and completed. Every part that was not up to concours standards was replaced with either NOS parts, or new parts directly from Mercedes-Benz. Chrome plating was done by Christensen Plating, famous for several Pebble Beach winners over the last 40 years, and the Macassar ebony woodwork was restored by Madera Concepts. Particular attention was given to the undercarriage and engine bay ensuring that this magnificent restoration sets itself apart from the rest.

The result of Landeros and Serrels work is a 250 SE that is unparalleled in the Mercedes community. Since its arrival at Canepa, the Coupe has received another 100 hours of detailing and sorting, ensuring that its next owner will not only enjoy winning concours, but will also enjoy putting mile after mile on this exquisite Opera Coupe.

About the 250SE:

With a production run that lasted just over two years, many experts consider the 250SE to be the best of the iconic six cylinder Mercedes-Benz W111 coupes from the 1960s. With its seven main engine bearings and a six-plunger injection pump, it offered more power than the 220SE predecessor, and greater durability than the 280SE which followed with its narrower gaps between the cylinder bores.

The 250SE also came with a more elegant interior trim than the later 280SE, with many chrome plated fittings that were replaced by satin silver finished parts to meet more stringent DOT rules. The luxurious wood veneered instrument binnacle also ended with the 250SE, and were replaced by a leather covered binnacle in the later cars.