(August 25, 2015) The coveted dream car of the 1960s will meet the star of the 2015 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is following in the tradition of the open-top S-Class (model series 111 and 112) from the period 1961 to 1971.

Mercedes-Benz says unmistakeable, exclusive design, fine materials with maximum high-class appeal in the interior and state-of-the-art technology in the S-Class characterize the concept behind both cabriolets. 

"After 44 years we can again offer friends of our company an open variant of the S‑Class. The new S-Class Cabriolet symbolizes our passion for individual and timelessly exclusive mobility, which we share with our customers," said Ola Källenius, board Member of Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales.

With the new S-Class Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz says it is setting itself as the standard for building the most comfortable cabriolet in the world. When it comes to climate comfort the enhanced automatic wind protection system AIRCAP, the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, the heated armrests, the seat heating also in the rear plus the intelligent fully automatic climate control insure that this is indeed the case.

The new S-Class Cabriolet is carrying the long and successful tradition of Mercedes-Benz luxury-segment cabriolets into the future. Even back in the 1920s the luxury cabriolets from Stuttgart combined the freedom of open-top motoring with the comfort and safety of a Mercedes-Benz sedan.

From the start of post-war production the top models from Mercedes-Benz were also available in the particularly exclusive variant as a cabriolet. These included the 170 S from 1949, the 220 from 1951 and the 300 S from 1952.

After the "Ponton" cabriolets 220 S  and 220 SE built from 1956 to 1960, in 1961 the 220 SE Cabriolet of the model series W 111 was launched, a particularly elegant, open-top four-seater, whose design is still considered timeless to this day. In this 10-year production period Mercedes-Benz offered five different models.

For the time being there was no open-top luxury-segment car in the Mercedes-Benz model range to follow this generation: rather, it is the new SL from model series 107 which cultivated the tradition of open-top motoring in the Stuttgart brand's cars — as a two-seater.

The cabriolets from Mercedes-Benz are today among the most sought-after classic cars — and the prices have developed accordingly.

Examples of this are the cabriolets from model series 111 whose values are cited by the renowned American Hagerty Insurance's price guide. In its estimation a 280 SE 3.5 from the final year of construction, 1971, in condition 2 today has a value of around $290,000 — 10 years ago the figure was some 115,000 US$. But that is by no means the pinnacle: for instance, a specimen of this model in excellent condition was auctioned last August by RM Auctions for $429,000.

The last six-cylinder 280 SE model (1969) in the same condition is valued today by Hagerty at approximately $75,000 US$ — about $45,000 10 years ago. Early 220 SE models are around the same level, with a current value of some $84,000.