By all accounts it would appear that the Mercedes Benz models built on the W108 platform such as the 250 SE seen here from 1965 – 1972 laid the foundation stones in the Mercedes Benz palate for what is now known as the range topping ‘S Class’.

Back in 1965 the W108 was launched with three 6 cylinder engine options the carburated 2496 cc / 152 cui 250S, fuel injected 2496 cc / 152 cui 250 SE or 2996 cc / 182.8 cui 300 SE and 300 SEL built on the long wheel base W109 chassis platform.

Behind the 14″ wheels were disc brakes all round to match the 15 second 0 – 62 mph acceleration and 114 mph top speed of the 150 hp automatic seen here.

Often referred to as the fintail without fintails the W108 cars added to Mercedes Benz reputation for building reliable and durable motor cars that helped turn the company into a World Automotive leader again.

Paul Bracq styling of the W108 was evolutionary from the slightly smaller tailfined W111 of 1957 to 1971, which would evolve into the E Class, while laying clear markers as to the styling of the immensely successful ‘new generation’ W114 and W115 models that were built from 1968 to 1976.

Unusually for European cars of the period the automatic gear box featured 4 speeds and a fluid coupling in place of the usual torque converter, it was also developed and built by Mercedes Benz at a time when most European manufacturers used US designed and built automatic transmissions.

This 1967 250 SE is one of 130,000 250 models assembled on the W108 platform between 1965 and 1967.

Thanks for joining me on this Fintail Without Fintails edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !