1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5 Sedan

This 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5 sedan is said to have been ordered new in 1970 by Seldon Loring, the sales manager at Foreign Motors of Boston, Massachusetts, and picked up in Germany via the automaker’s European delivery program in 1971 by him and his family before being shipped to the US. Chassis 004582 was purchased in 1972 by its first private owner, with whom it remained until 2010, when it was sold back to Mr. Loring at Foreign Motors. Following service by Paul Russell and Company of Essex, Massachusetts, commissioned by the second owner, the car was sold to a client of Bruce Canepa in 2016 and later underwent over $75k of mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment work in 2024 at Canepa in Scotts Valley, California, prior to being acquired by the current owner later that year. Refinished in Astral Silver Metallic over Dark Blue leather, it is powered by a 4.5L V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission and is further equipped with Bosch fuel injection, a Webasto sunroof, a Becker stereo, and Thermo King air conditioning. Previously listed on BaT in July 2026 , this W108 280SEL 4.5 sedan now shows 60k miles and is offered on dealer consignment in California with a copy of its datenkarte , refurbishment records from Canepa, and a clean Oregon title. The W108/W109 series was introduced in 1965 as the successor to the W111/W112 “fintail” sedans, bringing updated styling and a revised range of inline-six and V8 engines. Finished from the factory in Black (040) and Midnight Blue (904), this 280SEL 4.5 example underwent a color change to its current Astral Silver Metallic (735) finish as part of the aforementioned refurbishment at Canepa in 2024.