From a November 1971 Road & Track road test of the 1972 280SEL 4.5:

Curb weight: 3,775 lbs.

Speed: 0 to time (secs.)

30...............................4.7
40...............................6.5
50...............................8.6
60.............................11.2
70.............................14.8
80.............................19.0
100...........................32.7

Speeds in gears:

3rd gear (5200 rpm)..........118
2nd gear (5800 rpm)...........90
1st gear (5800 rpm)............56

Quarter mile performance: 18.1 seconds @ 78.5 mph

This vehicle was an early 1972 rated at 230 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 279 ft. lbs. torque @ 3,200 rpm and had a New Jersey registration (not a California car).

Now find results from a September 1970 Car & Driver road test of a 1971 Mercedes 280 SE (coupe) 3.5:

Curb weight: 3,623 lbs.

Speed: 0 to time (secs.)

30...............................3.2
40...............................4.8
50...............................6.6
60...............................9.0
70.............................11.8
80.............................14.7
100...........................23.1

Speeds in gears:

4th gear (6100 rpm)..........122
3rd gear (6500 rpm)............96
2nd gear (6500 rpm)...........55
1st gear (6500 rpm)............33

Quarter mile performance: 16.5 seconds @ 85.1 mph

This vehicle was an early 1971 rated at 230 hp @ 6,500 rpm and 231 ft. lbs. torque @ 4,200 rpm and had a New Jersey registration (not a California car).

Comments? Conclusions?