Rare 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Convertible at DFW Car & Toy Museum Highlights Texas as a Destination for Automotive Heritage

The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth has added a rare 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Convertible to its collection, giving North Texas residents and visitors a chance to see one of the most celebrated examples of hand-built Mercedes-Benz craftsmanship. The car, chassis WDB 111 023 120 88152 ZU, was owned by William J. Godfrey from 2001 until his passing and entered the museum through his estate. It is now on display in Fort Worth, where the museum has become a destination for automotive enthusiasts, families, and collectors from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond.

The 250SE Convertible is a W111 model, a body style produced by Mercedes-Benz between 1961 and 1971. Only 7,013 W111 Convertibles were built, and just 954 were 250SE Convertibles equipped with the automatic DB gearbox. That low production number makes this car a significant piece of automotive history. The 250SE was powered by a 2,496 cc M129.980 fuel-injected six-cylinder engine producing approximately 150 horsepower, a combination that helped define the grand touring experience of the 1960s. The odometer shows 10,971 miles, with the actual mileage presumed to be approximately 110,971 miles, indicating the car was regularly driven rather than kept as a static collector piece.

For Texas, the presence of such a rare vehicle at a free-admission museum in Fort Worth is more than a cultural attraction. The DFW Car & Toy Museum, founded by Ron Sturgeon in the 1980s and formerly known as DFW Elite Toy Museum, operates a roughly 150,000-square-foot facility at 2550 McMillan Parkway, near Meacham Airport and I-35W. The museum offers free parking, secure climate-controlled car storage, and event facilities for car clubs and gatherings. That combination supports local tourism and provides a venue for businesses and organizations to host events, which can generate economic activity in the region.

The car itself reflects the engineering milestones of the W111 line. The W111 was the first Mercedes-Benz automobile to incorporate built-in crumple zones, building on earlier safety innovations such as burst-proof door locks. The two-door Coupe and Convertible models were among the last extensively hand-built Mercedes-Benz automobiles produced at the Sindelfingen body plant, incorporating approximately four times as many hand-made parts as the four-door models. Finished in Ivory with a red leather interior and black convertible top, the 250SE retains its period appearance, including solid door bottoms, sills, wheel arches, and headlamp mounting areas, with no rust found in the spare-wheel well. An aftermarket air-conditioning system and a replacement canvas convertible top add modern comfort without altering the car's classic character.

The W111 also holds a place in popular culture. Rocket scientist Wernher von Braun owned several W111 automobiles and purchased one of the final examples built in 1971. A brown W111 Convertible was driven by actor Kevin Costner in the 2005 film Rumor Has It. These connections extend the model's appeal beyond traditional car collectors, which can help draw broader audiences to the museum.

For readers in Texas and beyond, the display of this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Convertible signals that North Texas is home to a growing automotive heritage destination. The museum's free admission and dog-friendly policy lower barriers for families and casual visitors, while its storage and event facilities serve car clubs and businesses. That mix can strengthen Fort Worth's position as a regional hub for automotive tourism and events, benefiting nearby hospitality and service businesses. The car remains a striking example of the craftsmanship and sophistication that defined Mercedes-Benz grand touring automobiles of the 1960s, and its availability to the public in Fort Worth makes that history accessible to a wide audience.