With matching numbers and in the care of the same family since 1978, this W112 comes with a charming history: “ It was my Dad’s pride and joy.

I started cleaning this car fifty years ago for Mrs.

Daintree Johnson, who was a family friend and its first owner, when I was ten years old.

“ Dad also looked after the car for her in the early 1970s, and in 1978 she sold the car to him.

It became his pride and joy and I’ve been its custodian since he sadly passed in the 1990s.

“ I have decided to sell it, and while this hasn’t been an easy decision for me, my daughters aren’t into cars and I don’t want to burden them with such a responsibility.

” The chromework is charmingly patinated, and would be happy to attribute the patina to overenthusiastic polishing by the seller when he was a child, but then we’re notorious romantics on such matters.

The grille has never been rechromed and remains in very good condition, while the bumpers were re-chromed around 20 years ago and have never seen ...