Classic car enthusiasts in North Texas have a new reason to visit the DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth: a rare 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Convertible, a W111 model that exemplifies the handcrafted luxury and advanced engineering of 1960s Mercedes-Benz grand touring automobiles.
The car, chassis number WDB 111 023 120 88152 ZU, was owned by William J. Godfrey from 2001 until his passing and entered the museum’s collection through his estate. Finished in Ivory (factory reference 050) with a red leather interior and black convertible top, the 250SE stands out for its meticulous restoration, including near-perfect dashboard and wood panels.
Under the hood, the 250SE features a 2,496 cc M129.980 fuel-injected six-cylinder engine producing approximately 150 horsepower. The combination of fuel injection and refined engineering helped establish the model as an exceptional grand tourer. According to the museum, the car’s odometer shows 10,971 miles, though the actual mileage is presumed to be approximately 110,971 miles. Rather than being a static collector piece, the car was regularly driven, reflecting a philosophy of preserving automobiles to be enjoyed.
What makes this particular 250SE especially significant is its rarity. Between 1961 and 1971, Mercedes-Benz produced only 7,013 W111 Convertibles, and just 954 were 250SE Convertibles equipped with the automatic DB gearbox. That production history places this classic among a relatively small group of automobiles built during one of the most celebrated periods of Mercedes-Benz craftsmanship.
The W111 story began in 1959 with the four-door saloon, followed by the two-door Coupe in 1961, which was presented to the public on February 24, 1961, at the opening of the Daimler-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The Convertible followed the same distinctive design language and outlived the four-door W111 by six years, remaining in production until May 1971. The W111 was also the first Mercedes-Benz automobile to incorporate built-in crumple zones, building on earlier safety innovations such as burst-proof door locks.
For collectors and automotive historians, the W111 Coupe and Convertible are notable for their construction. These two-door models were among the last extensively hand-built Mercedes-Benz automobiles produced at the Sindelfingen body plant. Compared with the four-door models, the two-door cars incorporated approximately four times as many hand-made parts, contributing to their exceptional craftsmanship and substantially higher original price.
The W111’s appeal extended beyond traditional buyers. Rocket scientist Wernher von Braun owned several W111 automobiles and was so impressed that he purchased one of the final examples built in 1971. A brown W111 Convertible also appeared on the big screen, driven by actor Kevin Costner in the 2005 film Rumor Has It.
This 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Convertible retains its elegant proportions and timeless character. The replacement canvas convertible top and tonneau cover complement the restoration, while an aftermarket air-conditioning system adds modern comfort. The body remains structurally sound, with solid door bottoms, sills, wheel arches, and headlamp mounting areas. No rust was found in the spare-wheel well, and the chrome, wheels, tires, and hubcaps retain their period appearance.
Located at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth, near Meacham Airport and I-35W, the DFW Car & Toy Museum offers free admission and free parking. The approximately 150,000-square-foot facility houses an extensive collection of classic, exotic, collectible, and historic automobiles along with thousands of vintage toys. The museum is dog friendly and also provides secure climate-controlled car storage and event facilities.
