1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Convertible

During the 1960s, Mercedes-Benz offered a series of convertible and coupe sedans based on its W111 chassis platform. Early variants of this model are collectively known as “Fin-backs” as a result of Mercedes-Benz building these sedans with prominent tail fins, in a misguided effort to appeal to what the Stuttgart manufacturer thought were American tastes. Of course, by this time, the era of tail fins was by and large over, so the styling of these early sedans came in for a reasonable thrashing, as being dowdy and out of date. While the styling of these early cars may have been stodgy, their engineering was extremely sound, resulting in a hearty, if not slightly underpowered, sedan that would run seemingly forever.