This is not merely one of the 245 rare right-hand drive 280SE 3.5 Coupes built for the public; it is the car that preceded them all. This is the pre-production prototype, manufactured in November 1968 not for sale, but for the exclusive use of the Daimler-Benz Experimental Division (Versuch).

Its status is not speculation; it is stamped in metal and recorded in factory documents. While the chassis was that of a 280SE coupe, it was on the assembly line that its original six-cylinder engine was removed and the all-new, groundbreaking M116 3.5-liter V8 was installed, complete with a specially re-designed bonnet to accommodate it. Crucially, its engine and axle numbers are all stamped with the definitive "V" for "Versuch" (Experiment), a mark reserved for the factory's most secretive test vehicles.

The story of its survival is as remarkable as its build. Destined for destruction, it was instead acquired by its first owner, Mr. Gowers, who, through a contact on the 'inside' at Mercedes-Benz, managed to secure this engineering treasure "out the back door." It remained in his careful ownership for 35 years, preserving its unique history.

Accompanied by perhaps the most spectacular history file of any W111 coupe—spanning from its pre-production paperwork at the factory, through its clandestine sale, and including a detailed, photo-documented restoration—this car offers a peerless opportunity. This is not just a collectible; it is the verified, documented, and singular prototype that paved the way for an legend.