With just two previous registered keepers, ‘YFA 121S’ has been in the seller’s care since 2012.

In those thirteen years, he’s taken his beloved Mercedes on long journeys to Spain, Italy and France, trips he says bring out the best in it: “it loves the open road”, he smiled “and drives beautifully.

I’ve never had any problems with the engine.

It’s been unstoppable.” Which means this 280SE continues to fulfil the design brief, even after 45 years, which is not something we expect to be writing of the new S-Class in four decades… Part of that, of course, it due to its curation, which has been impeccable.

Read on for more but be warned; it’s being offered with no reserve, so if you’re easily led, best stop now because it’s an absolute sweetheart of a car.

Buchanan’s Motors of Camden resprayed the car in 2019, charging a five-figure sum for doing so.

They fitted an offside front wing and a rear wheelarch while they were at it plus various bits of trim but, even so, you’d have every ri...