1967 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE 6.3 W112 Cabriolet

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SE Cabriolet ranks among the most exclusive open touring cars of the 1960s. As the top-of-the-range convertible of the W111/W112 series, it combined elegant coachwork with highly advanced engineering for its day. This particular 1967 example is especially notable for its 6.3-liter V8 specification—an impressive and highly individual configuration that was never offered by Mercedes-Benz ex works.

About the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE Cabriolet

Introduced in 1962, the 300 SE Coupé and Cabriolet were created by combining the refined two-door body shell with the technology of the Type 300 SE saloon. As a result, the W112 Cabriolet featured a 3.0-liter light-alloy inline-six, a 4-speed automatic transmission, power-assisted braking, air suspension, and dual-circuit disc brakes at both front and rear—an exceptionally sophisticated specification for the period.

From January 1964, engine output was increased to 170 horsepower through revisions to the fuel-injection system. Throughout its production run, the 300 SE Cabriolet represented the most exclusive convertible in the series, positioned above the six-cylinder W111 derivatives and aimed at customers seeking prestige, comfort, and technical refinement in equal measure.

The 6.3 Conversion

What makes this car particularly remarkable is its 6.3-liter V8 configuration. Mercedes-Benz never produced a factory-built 300 SE 6.3 Cabriolet; the 6.3-liter M100 V8 was introduced in the Mercedes-Benz 600 and later became famous in the 300 SEL 6.3 saloon from 1968 onward. With mechanical Bosch fuel injection and 250 horsepower, the M100 was one of the most formidable Mercedes-Benz engines of its era.

Installed in the elegant W112 Cabriolet platform, this engine creates a fascinating combination of two distinguished Mercedes-Benz worlds: the restrained luxury and exclusivity of the 300 SE Cabriolet, and the effortless power of the legendary 6.3-liter V8. The result is not a factory model, but a highly distinctive interpretation of one of Mercedes-Benz’s most prestigious post-war convertibles.

Historical Context

The W112 two-door models occupied a unique place within the Mercedes-Benz range. Although visually related to the W111 Coupé and Cabriolet, the 300 SE versions received the more advanced mechanical package of the 300 SE saloon and stood as the most exclusive open cars of the series. They bridged the gap between traditional Mercedes-Benz craftsmanship and the increasingly modern engineering direction of the brand during the 1960s.

At the same time, the M100 6.3-liter V8 marked a major step in Mercedes-Benz performance engineering. Originally developed for the flagship 600 and later installed in the 300 SEL 6.3, it gave the brand a new reputation for effortless high-speed performance. Combining that engine concept with the W112 Cabriolet results in a car of exceptional character and presence.

Rarity

Only 708 examples of the 300 SE Cabriolet were produced, making it the rarest and most exclusive convertible of the W111/W112 family. Any surviving W112 Cabriolet is therefore a highly collectible Mercedes-Benz in its own right. A 6.3-powered example stands apart even further, not as a series-production factory model, but as an especially unusual and memorable expression of Mercedes-Benz engineering and individuality.

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