Fans of the big body Benz W126 models are in luck with two special models on eBay right now.
First off is a 1988 U.S. spec 560SEL decked out in the Lorinser kit with 110,904 miles. The seller states this is a two owner car that has been well maintained. They have the original sticker with the car and its price is listed as $70,160, not including the $12,000 that the Lorinser body kit and rims added. There isn’t much more info about the car, but it does come with some spare parts. The car looks pretty good, it has tinted tail lights which, along with the color matched rims and grille, help the blacked out effect. There are white face gauge set on the inside with red accents, which stand out. The Lorinser kit is subtly different from the AMG kit; this car comes with the original Lorinser Sport Service badge. The car is begging for someone to toss the sunken U.S. spec headlights. Bidding sits at $3,550 with three days left and the reserve not met.
If you like the 560SEL above, but it just doesn’t quite fit the look you like in terms of your Miami Vice style Benz sedans then this following car shows a bit more refinement. This 1990 560SEL AMG is close to the peak in terms of the W126 sedans. Hat tip to reader Andrew for noticing this on Canadian eBay. Comparing this Euro car side by side with the U.S. Lorinser model above you can see how its lines are smoother and the AMG package just seems a bit tighter. The air dams and rocker aero package are a bit better sculpted, the Euro headlights make for a smooth front face, and the blacked out effect is completed with more success with the chrome around the doors being body color as well, though the AMG three piece wheels do retain a chrome lip.
This car has 64,178 miles and a long list of proper modifications. The Japanese market AMG logo “ducktail” spoiler mounted on this car, never all that appealing to me, I prefer the more traditional third brake light AMG straight spoiler, is a rare option. Again comparing this 560 to the one above you can really see how the AMG suspension components this car has gives it a lower wider stance. The seller lists this car as being a 9.8 out of 10 on the outside, with new clear coat and a 10 out of 10 on the inside. The 300 km/h speedo and white face AMG gauge set struck my as different and it took me a second to figure out why. The reason is all the yellow needles have been replaced with blacked out pieces, attention to detail there. The whole car does look fine.
Other parts on this car include the power rear sunshade, the heated power seats, and the 2.65 limited slip diff with second gear start switch, this can be swapped to a numerically higher diff, AMG offered several, for more sporting stop light performance, but you will lose some of the long haul highway munching characteristics this car is built for.
The seller lists the AMG parts as:
AMG paint scheme ( blacked out chrome finish )
AMG suspension [springs and shocks with stamps on them]
AMG complete exhaust system from the down pipes with AMG catalytic converter
AMG spoilers [ Japan version front and the so called “ducktail” ]
AMG 3 pc. 17″ staggered rims
AMG transmission with higher shifting points
AMG steering wheel
AMG cluster with 300 Km with correct reading of speed
AMG door thresholds on all 4 doors
AMG center wooden console
AMG wooden shift knob complete with logo
AMG authentic sticker on glove box wooden trim
I also note there is an AMG badge placed on top of the period car phone. A small Mercedes trophy sits in the console perhaps from a car show the seller took the car to.
This car won’t sell cheaply, but will not bring the same amount as an AMG engine modified car. Heavy bidding has it at $12,000 with reserve not met and five days left.
If you have your own 500 or 560 and want to add some life to it, there is a set of genuine AMG headers for sale right now on eBay for $2,300.
~Evan
The Canadian car is only 21 years old, but it’s a version of a model offered in the US. I wonder how difficult it would be to register it in the US.
I’m sure a few handfulls of cash will be needed to import. I’m not sure how the bumpers would work since these are AMG pieces that were available in the U.S.. I thought in some cases cars over than 20 years were clear to import without modification. I get frustrated thinking about the rules the NHTSA laid down that prevented cars like the 959 and Skyline from being legal during their prime and turned other cars ugly with arcane “safety” technology.
It was bugging me, so I looked it up. The ’86-’91 560SEL is on the NHTSA “Eligible for Importation” list, but you do have to work through a registered importer. Not easy, but not impossible either.