The best or nothing.

It was the Mercedes-Benz slogan for many years, and it was apt for a company that prized engineering above all else. Regardless of your passions or affiliations, it's impossible to argue that Mercedes-Benz did not build superlative automobiles. Reliable, comfortable, sophisticated, and often beautiful (but not always), this relentless drive to build perfect machinery was the reason that people purchased cars wearing the three-pointed star. A big part of the collector car hobby is the ill-defined concept of how a car "feels" when you drive it, and it's exactly why some cars speak more clearly to us than others. They just work better.

This 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220SE (or 220SEB, depending on whose nomenclature you're using) is one of those cars that delights the driver as much as the spectator. It's handsome, and in 1962, this must have been avant-garde design that was totally and thoroughly modern, so much so that it would survive almost unchanged for nearly 20 years as the rest of the world caught up with it. Mercedes-Benz was never known for taking risks, but beauty came easily to many of their designs, including this handsome hardtop. The proportions are trim and elegant, and the gently curving roofline gives this car a spacious feeling from inside and a sleek look from any angle. Refinished in what we believe to be its original bright white color, it has a sporting look that's very tasteful, a look that's augmented by the bright silver top that was painted just a few years ago. The result, with a metallic top and solid white body is a car that attracts attention but not by being garish. This is not a perfect car, but the doors open and close with a reassuring solidity and aside from a few nicks and scratches, the overall appearance is quite good. The bright chrome bumpers have surely been re-plated, most of the stainless trim has been polished, although we believe the grille is original and is only just now starting to show some very faint micro-blisters in its surface. Lenses and glass are very good and it has a very appealing look overall. For an entry-level Mercedes, this one looks very good indeed.

We're certain that the interior has been reupholstered, although we have every reason to believe that red was its original specification. The door panels are possibly original and in good order, but maybe the arm rests have been replaced. Seat covers are definitely new, but replicate the original patterns and there's fresh padding underneath, so they're firm and comfortable for long drives. Red is often difficult to photograph, looking either too orange or too pink, but rest assured that the red upholstery in this Mercedes is tasteful and correct-looking, not too bright. The carpets are new as well and things like the wood on the dash face and top are in good condition. The big, round dials for speed and engine RPM are a familiar look to anyone who has driven a vintage Mercedes in the past and the big steering wheel makes it easy to handle, even without power steering. Of note, this car is equipped with a floor-mounted 4-speed manual, making it feel quite agile on the open road, as well as factory A/C under the dash. There's a modern Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo in the center, and it looks a bit out of place where a Becker Europa might be more appropriate, but it does sound good broadcasting through a pair of modern speakers discreetly installed on the package shelf and painted to match. It appears that everything is operational except the clock, and this includes the neat little map light above the windshield that lights when you flip it open. There's also a spacious trunk with a full-sized spare and a color-matched carpet, as well as super solid floors that are reassuring in a car like this.

The 2.2 liter inline-six isn't about horsepower with a rating of 110, but rather about the total experience. Thanks to efficient and reliable fuel injection, it starts easily and settles into an easy idle immediately without the fussiness of its contemporaries' carburetors. The engine is sewing-machine smooth in everything it does and the wide spread of torque means that it is easy to drive and always feels like it's ready to go. The engine bay is neatly maintained, with painted engine components giving it a clean look, but it isn't a candidate for points competition any longer. All the factory components are intact, including the full fuel injection system, the big A/C compressor, and the long-tube intake manifold that's reminiscent of that used on the mighty 300SL. The battery stands out as being incorrect, but otherwise it's proper German engineering and clean living.

Thanks to the 4-speed manual transmission, the 220SE feels quite lively out on the open road. It's a medium-sized car that has a big car feel, but the faster you go the more it shrinks around you until you feel the car working in concert with you. It's happy to idle in rush hour traffic or blast along at highway speeds or tackle your favorite country road, and it does all those things equally well. The exhaust has a lovely snarl to it between about 2500 and 3300 RPM, making it a lot of fun to run through the gears, but it settles down and goes quiet at highway speeds, making it the archetypal highway cruiser. The suspension is supple yet athletic and the brakes are reassuringly powerful thanks to new front calipers and power assist. The wide whitewall tires are a nod to its American sensibilities, but they're sized properly and ride well and just imagine how great this car would look with a set of updated blackwall radials!

If you're a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, then you already know the joys of driving a well-engineered machine, because that tactile feeling of quality is tangible in every facet of this coupe. And at this price, it offers the newcomer a chance to own an unusual and attractive Mercedes-Benz that will make him a fan of the marque for life. Quality is, indeed, its own reward.