For serene progress behind the wheel, there is little to beat the allure of a classic Mercedes-Benz. That three-pointed star lovingly affixed to a motor car designed to last not just for your lifetime but several others, too. What the auctioneers are calling the Colour and Chrome collection, assembled by a private Mercedes obsessive, offers a handy opportunity to choose from seven such motor cars, each from an era when Stuttgart's proud aim was to put engineering excellence and unshakeable quality above all else. We've chosen three of our favourites, each finished in a period-perfect colourway with lashings of chrome. They'll never make them like this again.
1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pagoda
Is this the most elegant Mercedes ever made? These so-called Pagoda convertibles have become more and more desirable, the simplicity of their deluxe design speaking of quietly luxurious progress, preferably towards an equally elegant destination. This supremely immaculate example has subtle grey metallic paintwork, complemented by a striking re-trimmed red leather interior which you may never want to leave. The 150 bhp straight six offers more than ample cruising power, through the rare manual gearbox. Perfect for the seaside home.
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5
Limousine-like accommodation, with whisper quiet progress from a 1970s Mercedes flagship. Look out for the three pointed star on the bonnet, finished in silver, the colour used by racing Mercedes-Benzes, known colloquially as the Silver Arrows. The fuel-injected V8 allows for effortless progress, with 200 bhp on tap. The red leather interior has been fully reupholstered while the believed-original Becker Europa radio is present and correct. A sunroof allows a little of the outside world to creep in, should you desire it. Brilliance, in a trans-continental express.
1982 Mercedes-Benz (W123) 230 TE
Take one look and it's a green estate car. Take another and it's a modern classic, one of the last Benzes truly to be able to boast of an air of indestructibility. The colourway is perfectly 1980s Cactus Green complemented by a more discreet black cloth interior. The Blaupunkt Nashville radio cassette allows for your Duran Duran tapes to be retrieved from the attic. The 230 TE has covered a mere 100,000 miles, which for these tank-like W123 models means it's just about run-in. The key to the appeal of this Merc is its versatility: ideal for jaunts into the country, packed with picnic essentials, equally perfectly at home shined-up for a weekend car show. A labrador of a classic.
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