Design of a replacement for the two-door Pontoons began in 1957, as most of the chassis and drivetrain were to be unified with the sedan, the scope was focused on the exterior styling. Some of the mockups and prototypes show that Mercedes-Benz attempted to give the two-door car a front styling almost identical to what would be realized in the Pagoda roadster, but ultimately favored the work of engineer Paul Bracq. The rear bodywork however, persisted, and thus, though officially still called a fintail the rear end design had no chrome fin highlights.Production began in late 1960, and in February of the next year the coupe was premiered in Stuttgart for the 75th anniversary of the opening of Mercedes-Benz Museum. The convertible followed at the Frankfurt Auto Show a few months later; the car was almost identical to the coupe, with the soft-top roof folded into a recess behind the rear seat and covered by a tightly fitting bag. Unlike the previous generation of two-door pontoon series, there was only one model for the 2-door vehicle, the 220SE on both versions, with the identical M127 2195 cc engine. Prices in 1962 were 32,500 for the coupe and 36,000 NLG for the cabriolet. Options included a sliding sunroof for the coupe, power steering and individual rear seats.Finished in the rarely seen color of red, this 1963 Mercedes Benz 220SE is said to be finished in its original colors and said to be an all original car with the exception of one repaint. With the very desirable 4 speed manual transmission, this is a 94,000 original mile car that is very rarely seen. The car has been resprayed in the original color of red and is in very good condition overall. There are a few minor nicks and dings showing but no major imperfections to the paint or body. The trim on the car is original and shows some minor pitting and dings but in very nice original condition overall. The front and rear bumpers are in good condition but do show some dings as you can see in the photos. Inside, the original leather interior is in great condition for its age and shows no significant wear. The black leather seats look great and show no splits of the seams or major cracking in the leather. They do show some minor wear but overall they are in good condition. The carpet is in good condition but does show some staining and fading as you can see in the photos. The wood dash looks great with no cracking. The same goes for the steering wheel. Under the hood, the fuel injected inline 6 cylinder runs great and is connected to the 4 speed manual transmission. The car starts with no problems and goes down the road smooth. The clutch is strong and the car shifts smooth. The engine compartment is very clean and in nice, original condition. In the trunk, you will find the original spare and matting. The car comes with all of its original books and manuals as you can see in the photo. The current mileage shows 94,885 and is said to be original. The car is being sold on a clean, actual mileage title with VIN 1110211000780.