New York family send Mercedes that sat in storage for 30 years to Germany for restoration

A family in New York sent their Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Convertible away to Germany for restoration after it spent more than 30 years in storage. 

The vintage vehicle had been in the Blumencranz family for decades and even has an interesting claim to fame.

The Mercedes had spent the last 30 years in storage, with the family planning a restoration for years.

Finally, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the owners decided to send the Mercedes off to Germany to undergo complete frame-off restoration.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

The Mercedes-Benz 280 SE had been in the family for decades

For car enthusiasts, there are few things more exciting to see than a car being given a second chance – whether it’s a rare one-of-one McLaren Senna or a flood-damaged Rolls-Royce Cullinan, it’s always good to see them lovingly restored to how they once were.

Over in New York, Eric Blumencranz knew that he wanted to see his dad Roger’s vintage Mercedes-Benz 280 SE restored to its former glory having been in the family for decades. 

The story began back in 1969 when Roger would regularly drive past a Mercedes dealership and stare longingly at the vehicle.  

The following year, he decided to splash out on the brown-colored car and it was love at first sight for a young Eric, who was about five at the time. 

Roger drove the Merc for a year or so, before handing it over to his wife who kept it on the road for the next 17 years. 

However, it eventually ended up in storage, where it spent the next 30 years. 

Sadly, the time off the road had taken its toll on the car – with rust eating away at the floor and the interiors looking cracked and tired.

The classic car has a fun claim to fame

For Eric, the Mercedes held a lifetime of happy memories – it even has a cool claim to fame, once appearing in a Coca-Cola commercial that aired on TV. 

So, when it came to restoring the vehicle, the family knew they wanted it done right and reached out to the experts at Arthur Bechtel Classic Motors in Germany. 

The experts were able to fully restore the vintage vehicle and get it looked as good as the day Roger picked it up from the dealership. 

In fact, the restoration was so well done that Eric’s 86-year-old mother became tearful when she saw the car again. 

How lovely is that? Here’s hoping the family get many more happy years out of their beloved Mercedes.