1965 Mercedes-Benze 220SE Cabriolet Practically New Total Ground–Up Restoration

Click to enlarge any of the photos below. A link to a slideshow of all the enlarged photos is available at the bottom of the page.

The interior was completely redone in the factory using Mercedes-Benz parchment leather. Rather than purchasing a leather seat kit, the seat patterns were crafted from scratch, copying the original seat covers. Carpet was also tailored to the car and not a kit that most people buy online and throw in there hoping that it will adjust itself to the car. The outside door handles were purchased brand new, as well as the lock on the trunk. Our interior guy has only been working on our cars exclusively, which have been only Mercedes Benz and occasionally a Rolls Royce or Ferrari, for the last 35 years.

Factory Blue German canvas and original Headliner materials used to rebuild the soft top frame from the bottom up. Every molding has been re-chromed by the best shop in Los Angeles. We also purchased a set of burl wood from Mercedes Benz in Germany circa 1986, fully aware that we'd find good use for it in this 220SE Cabriolet. All brand new factory Mercedes glass was purchased for this project 14 years ago, including a Brand new windshield and molding. It's equipped with brand New European headlights and tail lights items that are no longer available today, a professionally rebuilt factory installed Becker radio and a brand new Hirschman electric antenna; also an item that can no longer be purchased today at any price! There are too many other parts to list.
We upgraded the differential to disc brakes for better braking performance, installed all 4 brand new rotors and calipers, brand new bilstein shocks all the way around, 5 brand new Phoenix tires, new master cylinder, replaced brake hoses, and re-cored the radiator.

Both, the undercarriage and the trunk were completely redone; detailed with cad plated fuel and brake lines and all new brackets to hold them up. We truly feel it's safe to say this is the best 220SE Cabriolet restoration in existence.

Click here to view a slideshow of the enlarged images.