The New S-Class Cabriolet: A Star Returns
 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet with the S-Class Cabriolet W 111. |
STUTTGART -- August 25,
2015: Coveted dream car of the 1960s meets star of the 2015 International
Motor Show in Frankfurt: the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is
following in the tradition of the open-top S-Class (model series 111 and
112) from the period 1961 to 1971. Unmistakeable, exclusive design, fine
materials with maximum high-class appeal in the interior and
state-of-the-art technology in the S-Class characterise the concept behind
both cabriolets.
"After
44 years we can again offer friends of our company an open variant of the
S‑Class. The new S-Class Cabriolet symbolises our passion for
individual and timelessly exclusive mobility, which we share with our
customers", remarks Ola Källenius, Board Member of Daimler AG,
Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales.
With the new
S-Class Cabriolet Mercedes-Benz is setting itself the standard of building
the most comfortable cabriolet in the world. When it comes to climate
comfort the enhanced automatic wind protection system AIRCAP, the AIRSCARF
neck-level heating system, the heated armrests, the seat heating also in
the rear plus the intelligent fully automatic climate control ensure that
this is indeed the case.
The new S-Class
Cabriolet is carrying the long and successful tradition of Mercedes-Benz
luxury-segment cabriolets into the future. Even back in the 1920s the
luxury cabriolets from Stuttgart combined the freedom of open-top motoring
with the comfort and safety of a Mercedes-Benz Saloon. From the start of
post-war production the top models from Mercedes-Benz were also available
in the particularly exclusive variant as a cabriolet. These included the
170 S (W 136) from 1949, the 220 (W 187) from 1951 and the 300 S (W 188)
from 1952.
After the "Ponton" cabriolets
220 S (W 180) and 220 SE (W 128) built from 1956 to 1960, in 1961 the 220
SE Cabriolet of the model series W 111 was launched, a particularly
elegant, open-top four-seater, whose design is still considered timeless to
this day. In this ten-year production period Mercedes-Benz offered five
different models in these model series: the 220 SE, 250 SE, 300 SE (W 112),
280 SE and, as a late top model, the eight-cylinder 280 SE 3.5 – in
total 7013 units of these five cabriolets were manufactured in
Sindelfingen. For the time being there was no open-top luxury-segment car
in the Mercedes-Benz model range to follow this generation: rather, it is
the new SL from model series 107 which cultivated the tradition of open-top
motoring in the Stuttgart brand's cars – as a two-seater.
The cabriolets from Mercedes-Benz are today
amongst the most sought-after classic cars – and the prices have
developed accordingly. Examples of this are the cabriolets from model
series 111 whose values are cited by the renowned American Hagerty
Insurance's price guide. In its estimation a 280 SE 3.5 from the final year
of construction, 1971, in condition 2 today has a value of around 290,000
US$ - ten years ago the figure was some 115,000 US$. But that is by no
means the pinnacle: for instance, a specimen of this model in excellent
condition was auctioned last August by RM Auctions for 429,000 US$.
The last six-cylinder 280 SE model (1969) in
the same condition is valued today by Hagerty at approx. 75,000 US$ - about
45,000 US$ ten years ago. Early 220 SE models are around the same level,
with a current value of some 84,000 US$.