In the early 1970s, Mercedes-Benz built what many consider the finest automobile in the world. 1971 was the only year the 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet was imported into the United States, with just 802 examples making the journey — for buyers who wanted wind in their hair, there was no finer choice.

Styled by Paul Bracq under design chief Friedrich Geiger, the cabriolet paired clean, understated lines with Mercedes’ new 3.5-litre M116 V8 — enough power for genuinely brisk performance, without disturbing the refinement the body was built around.

This example is finished in Silver Blue with a Navy roof over Beige leather, showing 75,000 miles. Left-hand drive and US-spec, it comes with its original owner’s manuals, including the correct period-issue 280 SE 3.5 Coupé/Convertible manual.

With only 802 cars imported to the US, and this level of documentation, examples like this are genuinely hard to find — and increasingly sought after as W111 values firm up internationally.

Now available at Tomini Classics, Dubai.