In February 1961, at the inauguration of the brand's first museum, Mercedes presented its new coupé, based on the W111/W112 sedans. Thanks to the talent of French designer Paul Bracq, the car was skilfully stripped of the American-inspired ornamentation of the four-door from which it was derived, and its design displayed great purity, making it an instant addition to the pantheon of the German firm's great classics. The early 220 SE was joined in 1962 by the 300 SE, the model we're interested in here, which embodied the absolute top of the Mercedes range. Its 160 hp all-aluminium six-cylinder engine, air suspension and four-speed automatic gearbox, combined with sumptuous equipment and proverbial quality of finish, enabled it to rival contemporary Bentley Continentals and Facel Végas with ease. It's undeniably one of the most desirable variants in this series, now highly coveted by collectors!