Here’s another estate sale, with the seller looking to move this 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE out of the family’s garage – where it’s been parked for twenty-five years – into a new home. The listing is here on eBay, and bidding has reached $3150 in a no-reserve auction. The car is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Though it will run, it’s not quite in driving condition, so bring a trailer! The 280SE’s elegant lines have grown popular in the collector marketplace, with W111/112 coupes and convertibles breaching six figures regularly, but the six-cylinder four-door sedan remains reasonably priced. Designed by Frederich Geiger, who ran M-B’s styling department from the early 1950s through his retirement in 1973, the W108 followed the fintail series. It arrived in 1965 to wide acclaim. Mercedes-Benz had accrued a solid reputation for a certain style, robust build, and longevity by then, but most importantly, it had honed its skills at volume production.

A variety of engines were available during the production run. This one is Mercedes’ fuel-injected 2.8 liter M130 six, capable of about 160 hp and a top speed of 118 mph. The gearbox is the optional four-speed automatic; buyers appreciated power-assisted disc brakes all around, as well as Mercedes’ obsession with crumple zones and other safety features. The seller notes that after the car’s long slumber, the gas tank was drained and a new battery was installed. These efforts were rewarded by a successful start-and-run from the engine, though the seller suggests that at the very least, the fuel system needs to be cleaned out and a tune-up performed before the car can be made reliable. Evaluating the brakes and transmission will require a drive or two. The odometer reads just under 93,000 miles, believed to be the total traveled since new.

The interior tells a tale of careful use over decades. The upholstery has held up well with only minor staining, the dash wood is uncracked, the door panels are ship-shape though the driver’s arm rest has been replaced with a black version, the carpets are decent. The steering wheel wears a wrap; we could suspect its condition underneath but the center pad and the horn ring appear nearly new. It’s better in here than outside where the paint – redone about 35 years ago – is faded and dull. One wickedly expensive item is chrome – and the trim both in and out looks like it can give several more years of service before even looking tatty. Original documents including the owner’s manual, service book, parts catalog and more come with the sale. The trunk could use an enthusiastic cleaning.

The body is straight as a pin – note how well the trim bits and sheet metal gaps line up. It’s almost poetic. The seller notes that the underside is clean, too. We mentioned values have increased: before about 2014, these cars sold in the high four figure area while now nice examples will sell in the mid-teens and occasionally more. That doesn’t leave much headroom to put money into this car, but if the restoration costs were held to mechanical refurbishment, the current price could be considered reasonable.