280 SE

Among the most beautiful were the iconic W111 coupes and Cabriolet models designed by Paul Bracq, then head of Mercedes design, and derived from the “fin tail” sedans. For these two-door models, Bracq shaved the sedans’ little tail fins that seemed inspired by a ’58 Rambler. The result was one of the most elegant profiles Mercedes ever produced.

By the mid-1960s, the sedans had adopted the sleeker tail of the coupe/ Cabriolet, while the latter shared in the mechanical upgrades to the sedan. For 1968, a new 2.8-liter inline six replaced the previous 2.5- and 3.0-liter units, and for 1969 (hence the “280” badge), a new 3.5-liter aluminum V8 also joined the line.