The Mercedes 220 seb owes its origins to the 4-door model, later known as the Mercedes "S" class and at that time known by the nickname "fishtail" for the aesthetics of its rear. It was equipped with a 2,195 cc in-line 6-cylinder engine, in the coupe with the more powerful Bosch mechanical injection version, and was the first car with deformation zones to absorb kinetic energy in the event of an accident. The coupe version designed by Paul Bracq featured a more subtle rear, laying the design foundations for the subsequent W108/109 "S" class of the mid-1960s. Launched in 1960, it remained in production until 1971.
The car presented here is from 1961, delivered new to the C. Santos dealership in Portugal. It has spent the last five years being restored to its original exterior and interior colours, with an extensive mechanical overhaul. Highlights of the interior include the excellent restoration of the woodwork, the new upholstery of German origin with the engraving and stitching patterns on the leather faithful to those that came out of the factory and, at the mechanical level, the complete rebuilding of the engine, overhaul of the braking system, injection (restored by international experts), steering, suspensions and fitting of classic BF Goodrich tyres with white stripes, in accordance with the car's factory option.
The end result is an extraordinarily beautiful car, matching numbers and colours, with a distinctive and very elegant colour scheme ready to be enjoyed.