There are four words every classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiast should know: unibody, ponton, Einspritzmotor, and cabriolet. They describe the four major advances by the company during the mid-1950s, culminating in the production of this flagship automobile in 1960.

A one-piece chassis and body, designed with collapsible components for safety in collisions, replaced the previous body-on-chassis structure in 1953. Replacing the multiple-form body design, the ponton—German for “pontoon”—body had a single clean styling line from the headlamp along the front fender across the door panel and terminating at the taillight at the end of the rear fender. By 1958 Mercedes engineers developed the improved 220 SE, replacing the earlier carbureted engine with the M127 gasoline injection engine—Einspritzmotor in German, and the E in SE—using a very early form of the mechanical pump-driven system by Bosch to feed fuel into the six cylinders.

Mercedes-Benz Classic Center fully restored this 220 SE cabriolet just over ten years ago, and its current enthusiast owner purchased it from them in 2009. The Classic Center is very well-known for their exemplary restorations that are faithful to the way the cars were built new at the factory. The car has been well maintained over the last ten years, and today the odometer shows barely 900 miles since restoration. Few 220 SEs are restored to this level, and it is even more unusual to find one fully restored by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. Finished in Medium Red over a beige interior with dark red piping, this example also has a two-piece fitted luggage set made in leather matching the interior. Also included are owner’s manuals, a tool roll, and other accessories.