Mercedes Benz W111 W112 Coupe and Cabriolet

Production period:	1961 to 1971
Class :	Luxury
Body versions :	coupé , convertible
Engines:	2.2–3.5 liters
Length:	192.13 in,4880 mm
Width:	72.64 in, 1485 mm
Height:	(Convertible) 56,30 in, 1430 mm (coupe) 55.91 in, 1420 mm,
wheelbase :	108.27 in, 2750 mm
Dry weight :	(Convertible) 3131 1b, 1420 kg (coupe) 2911 1b, 1320 kg
Ground clearance:	6.89 in, 175 mm

The Mercedes Benz W111 and W112 Coupe and Cabriolet were built from 1961 to 1971.

History

The new Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb coupe was presented at the opening of the Daimler-Benz Museum on February 24, 1961.In addition to the four-door sedans, the coupés and convertibles with flatter bodies and rounded fins that were only rudimentarily recognizable were also classified in the 111 and 112 series. The model range as 220SEC,250SEC along with the 280SEC, 280SEC 3.5L. Only the 230 S continued to be produced to 1968 as the only saloon the W 111 coupés and cabriolets remained in the range until 1971.

As the W 111, there was initially a coupe and cabriolet with the same technology as the 220 SE sedan as the 220 SEb/C. In contrast to the previous model, the coupé is based on the unabridged frame-floor system of the corresponding sedan and was therefore a fully-fledged four-seater. Stylistically, the coupe and sedan also have a great deal in common nevertheless, not a single part of the raw components of the four-door car could be used for the coupé or convertible. These C models were the last largely handcrafted Mercedes, which is why the price of the coupés and convertibles was almost twice as high as that of the sedans. Four times as many parts were handcrafted for coupés and convertibles as for sedans. 

PERFORMANCE: 2.2L W 111 coupe and cabriolet 

• Engine capacity: 134.25 cu in, 2195 cu cm
• Fuel consumption: 26.4 m/imp gal, 22.0 m/US gal, 10.7 1 x 100 km
• Max speed: 105.6 mph, kmh
• Max power (SAE): 134 hp at 5000 rpm
• Max torque (SAE): 152 1b ft,21 kgm at 4100 rpm
• Max number of engine rpm: 6000
• Specific power: 61.2 hP/l
• Power-weight ratio: 25.0 lb/hp,11.35 kg/hp
• Acceleration: standing 1/4-mile 18.5 sec

The 220 SEb/C was the first Mercedes series passenger car to be fitted with disc brakes on the front wheels. The original type designation "SEb/C" is unique because on the one hand it shows the difference to the predecessor model Ponton SE or SEa, on the other hand it was abandoned with the introduction of the almost identical 250 SE Coupé. Along with the 4-speed manual gearbox an automatic gear box, hydraulic torque convertor and planetary gears with 4 ratios was an option as well as a sunshine roof on the Coupe. The suspension was independent, wishbones, coil springs. Rubber bellows, anti-roll bar with telescopic dampers at the front and the rear suspension has independent, single joint low pivot, swinging half-axles, trailing radius arms, coil rubber bellows, horizontal compensating coil spring, telescopic springs with dampers.

PERFORMANCE 250 SE: 2.5L M129 Engine

• Engine Capacity 152.31 cu in, 2,496 cu cm
• Fuel Consumption 24.1 m/imp gal, 20.1 m/US gal
• Max Speed 118 mph, 190 km/h
• max power (SAE): 170 hp at 5,600 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 174 1b ft, 24 kg m at 4,500 rpm
• max engine rpm: 6,300
• specific power: 68.1 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 19.4 lb/hp, 8.8 kg/hp
• acceleration: 0—50 mph (0—80 km/h) 7.7 sec
• speed in direct drive at 1,000 rpm: 19.9 mph, 32 km/h.
• max speeds: 31.1 mph, 50 km/h in 1st gear; 55.9 mph, 90 km/h in 2nd gear; 89.5 mph, 144 km/h in 3rd gear; 118 mph, 190 km/h in 4th gear

From 1965 the 250 SE Coupé models with 150 hp (110 kW) came out with the M 129 of the W 108 series. Like the three-litre models, they were fitted with 14-inch wheels and the larger disc brakes of the luxury class 108 series, now with disc brakes on the rear wheels as well. The distribution of weight at 53.5 % to front axle, and 46.5 % at rear axle.

In 1967 Mercedes brought a new 2.8 L M 130 engine with 160 hp (118 kW). As a result, the new W 111/C was now called the 280 SE Coupé. There were also small changes in the interior. The previously veneered instrument housing was covered with leather.

The W 111 received another facelift, which was also visible from the outside, from 1969 with the introduction of the 3.5 l V8 engine M 116 with 200 hp (147 kW). From November 1969, vehicles with a six-cylinder engine also had a flatter bonnet and a lower radiator grille. From then on, the models were differentiated by the (unofficial) designations "high cooler" and "flat cooler". The Cabriolet 280 SE 3.5 with the eight-cylinder engine is a coveted vehicle of this series.

300 SE Coupé and 300 SE Cabriolet 

The W-112 types 300 SE Coupé and 300 SE Cabriolet, which were offered at the same time played a minor role in the sales figures. The body of the corresponding 220 SEb variant was provided with additional decorative elements and combined with the technology of the 300 SE type. Accordingly, the new exclusive models, which, like the sedan on which they are based, belong to the W 112 series, were equipped with a number of special technical features.

The basic equipment includes an M 189 light-alloy engine with a displacement of three litres, a four-speed automatic transmission, power steering, air suspension and a dual-circuit brake system with disc brakes on the front and rear wheels. The additional chrome decoration consists of a continuous chrome strip in the longitudinal bead from the headlights to the rear lights as well as decorative strips on the wheel arches and on the rocker panels. From March 1963, the 300 SE coupe, cabriolet and sedan were also available with an optional four-speed manual transmission; in this case, the list price was reduced by 1,400 marks. In January 1964 the engine output was increased to 125 kW (170 hp). A six-piston injection pump (instead of the previous two pistons with distributor pieces) made this increase in performance possible.

The air-sprung W 112 models were finally removed from the range in 1967, and after a total construction period of more than ten years, the last W 111 six-cylinder coupés and convertibles were produced in May 1971. Production of eight-cylinder coupés and convertibles also ended in July of the same year. This also ended the construction of four-seater cabriolets for the time being, because the successor W 116 was only available as a sedan. The successor to the coupe was the SLC of the 107 series. 

A total of 28,918 coupés and 7,013 cabriolets were built at the Sindelfingen plant. The 220 SEb coupe achieved the highest production number within the model family with 14,173 units. Although the cabriolets only cost around ten percent more than the coupés during the construction period, they are now more than twice as expensive in a comparable condition and with a motor.  

Coupe/Cabriolet range