1985 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC

The eighties would be an end of an era for people wanting to privately import their own example of a vehicle not officially offered for US sale. Mounting legislation would make it impossible to import a vehicle under 25 years of age unless it met federal safety and emissions standards or if it was granted an exception under show and display status. Truth be told, the number of folks willing to go to the expense and trouble of private vehicle importation is rather small, but now the door was closed to bringing over cars such as this 1986 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC, with its higher output V8 and slimmer bumpers that connoisseurs of the marque love. The C126 coupe was a masterfully graceful design, sandwiched between the somewhat awkwardly proportioned C107 SLC coupe and the large and in charge C140 coupe.

Click for details: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC on eBay

Year: 1985
Model: 500SEC
Engine: 5.0 liter V8
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 50,900 mi
Price: Reserve auction

1985 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC European model – VIN: WDB1260441A130092 – 040 Black/271 Black leather

Sunroof – ABS – Cruise control – Full leather – Period radar detector – High performance Nakamichi in-dash CD with trunk mounted amp – Professionally lowered 2″ when new – 50k documented miles

Euro headlamps – Euro small bumpers – No accidents – Full history from new including original sales invoice – Full handbooks including US and German owner’s handbooks – Tools

Original Euro emergency triangle Fitted front sheepskins

European model imported new to Arizona in May 1985 and most recently in Montana – no catalytic converters – 9.2:1 compression (US model: 8.0:1) – 47 more HP than a US model

NOT SUITABLE FOR USE IN CALIFORNIA – EPA and DOT releases on hand

Massive service just completed including: New tires – Restored wheels – AC service – New Bilstein shocks – Brake pads – Ign wires/plugs/dist. cap and rotor

Rebuilt power steering pump – All new drive belts

Timing chain inspection revealed pristine clean valve train and taut double width timing chain – Rebuilt fuel distributor

Breathtaking original paint excepting the hood – Supple leather – Spotless carpets

Excellent burlwood – Perfect headliner – Clean undercarriage

Gorgeous from any angle, this is perhaps one of the most interesting SECs currently available.

Silky smooth and very quick. A collectible Young Classic.

Contact Roy Spencer @ 650-343-7980 for more details. Pre-purchase inspections can be scheduled locally.

Please have a look at the extensive photo essay below. Thanks!

This has to be one of my favorite SECs that I’ve set eyes on in quite some time. Black on black is very elegant and while I typically stray away from gray market imports of this era, this one appears to have been lightly used and well maintained. Some low mileage US market 560SECs have brought strong money as of late, witness this clean 1986 example we featured a two years ago. Given the mileage and the uniqueness of being a gray market import, I’d suspect a car like this should fetch somewhere in the $13,000 to $16,000 range, roughly.

-Paul