S-Class Cabriolet: the star of the show

NATIONAL -The coveted dream car of the 1960’s will meet the star of the 2015 International Motor Show in Frankfurt.

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet follows 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 the old and new 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,” says 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 will be 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 1920’s the luxury cabriolets from Stuttgart combined the freedom of open-top motoring with the comfort and safety of a Mercedes-Benz sedan.

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 include 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: 220 SE, 250 SE, 300 SE (W 112), 280 SE and 280 SE 3.5.

The cabriolets from Mercedes-Benz are among the most sought-after classic cars.

The cabriolets from model series 111 are highly valued, according to American Hagerty Insurance’s price guide.

In its estimation a 280 SE 3.5 from the final year of construction, 1971, in condition to today has a value of around 290 000 US$ (R3,8 million).

Ten years ago the figure was some 115 000 US$ (R1,5 million).

The last six-cylinder 280 SE model from 1969 in the same condition is presently valued at approximately 75 000 US$ (just under R1 million). Early 220 SE models are around the same level, with a current value of some 84 000 US$ (R1,1 million).