The most desirable of the 220 SE variants were the two-door models, which were produced in very limited numbers. Whilst mass-produced, the cars were hand-finished at Sindelfingen by craftsmen skilled in the art of coach building, and the result was jewel-like fit and finish, at a cost of nearly 75% more than the saloon. As a result, fewer than 2,000 of the coupé and cabriolet 220 SEs were sold between 1958 and 1960, and the 220 SE has taken its rightful place in the hierarchy of Stuttgart’s most famous and beloved creations.

As the recipient of an older cosmetic restoration, this 220 SE wears elegant two-tone paintwork with a jet black roof over a medium silver body. The highly attractive body is enhanced by the sparkle of the brightwork, which shows only light polish wear. A nice addition to the classic fascia of the car is the fitment of dual Hella fog lights. The underside was lightly refinished as well, having been painted flat black and showing only light soiling today. A look under the bonnet reveals a rather tidy engine bay, with the 2.2-litre, fuel-injected engine displaying very nicely, having benefitted from light detailing.

In keeping with the regal exterior, the interior is furnished with rich, comfortably worn red leather and corresponding dark red carpeting, which exhibits some light soiling on the driver and passenger floorboards. An attractive light tan headliner has some minor staining, but there are no obvious flaws. The dark dash and wood trim work have also been refinished and exhibit only minor wear. A lovely feature of these cars is the folding rear seat, which transforms into a package tray for extra storage. The boot is finished in similar red carpeting and additional black carpeting, and it holds a full-size spare tyre. Like with most luxury touring automobiles, luggage space in the boot is more than adequate. As one of the most desirable luxury models produced by Mercedes-Benz at the end of the 1950s, this gorgeous 220 SE would look right at home on the road or in the garage.