Following on to the low mileage 560SEC we featured a short time ago, here is the car’s successor, the C140 CL class. Introduced in 1992 as the 500SEC, the car underwent a mild facelift in 1994 and was renamed the S500 coupe to adhere to Mercedes’ new nomenclature. In 1997, the final evolution in this S class coupe’s life was seen, as it was now called the CL500. Essentially the same car that preceded it, this large two door featured Mercedes-Benz’s venerable M119 5.0 liter V8. Less complex than the V12 version, it was praised for offering more reliability and better handling balance. These coupes were just advanced as their sedan counterparts, with everything from park distance control to double pane window glass. This example for sale outside of Philadelphia has done 77,000 miles and looks to be in good condition, albeit with signs of wear consistent with its age and mileage.
1999 Mercedes-Benz CL500 on eBay
At almost 17 feet long, this is one big imposing brute. But I love it for that reason. It’s true that this could be a potential nightmare in terms of electrics, but with the V8 engine, the running costs would be less than its rarer V12 counterpart. I’d say if one could obtain this car for a bit under $10,000, it would be well bought. It looks as if the front and rear bumpers could use a bit of touch up, but with a little bit of attention and a reasonable mechanic at your disposal, this could be an enjoyable personal luxury vehicle for not a lot of cash.
-Paul