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The Mercedes-Benz 560SEL was the definitive über sedan for more than a decade beginning in the early 1980s. They weren’t particularly eye-catching or glitzy but had a refined, tasteful appearance in a way only a classic Mercedes-Benz could pull off. With a rear seat that was almost five feet wide, passengers were treated to the utmost comfort and the driver had adequate power at his disposal with the M117 V8 under the hood. Want to look like a diplomat for a day? This 1987 560SEL in Desert Taupe for sale in Illinois is a good way to do just that. For those thinking a classic S-class in good condition with low miles is out of reach, read on.
To be honest, I heaved a sigh of relief the day I sold my 2007 Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport. I felt as if the compact executive sedan was becoming too ubiquitous for the upwardly mobile in my area, especially those wearing an Audi, BMW or Mercedes badge. To this day, I’m happy with the choice I made to buy a used 2006 MINI Cooper S, as it still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. A few months back, while on a business trip to South Africa, my father called and informed me he traded in his W202 C280 for a 2014 C300 4Matic in Dolomite Brown Metallic, like the car we see here for sale in Texas. I didn’t give much thought to the W204 C-class when it replaced the W203 C-class shortly after I bought my C230 Sport. Given that the W205 C-class has a turbo four-cylinder engine, lack of start-stop override and a navigation screen that looks like an iPad slapped on the dash, it has me eyeing these late model W204 C300s with their 3.5 liter V6 a bit more closely.
Along with the 2002, the New Six was BMW’s first attempts at branching out to buyers of other luxury vehicle brands, most notably their domestic rival, Mercedes-Benz. Comprised of the E3 sedan and E9 coupe, the New Six was a bit of a different animal than the competition from Stuttgart, aimed more at the driver than those who were seeking a more cosseting driving experience. A number of variants were offered, with the top of the range being the 3.3 Li. This long-wheelbase model packed a 3.3 liter inline-6 packing 190 horsepower and sharp handling that would put BMW on the map for those looking for a more engaging luxury sedan. This 3.3 Li for sale in Freiburg, Germany is one of a handful of these high-end E3s built, with barely 30,000 miles from new.
Every now and then, I spot a black W124 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet tooling around the neighborhood. These days, this is a car that sticks out. It doesn’t necessarily look vintage, but has a crisp, stately appearance that is sadly lacking in most new vehicles these days. As we move further towards vehicles with all kinds of computer assistance and, dare I say it, self-driving cars, it’s nice to look back two decades and find a car like this with classic style mixed in with modern convenience. This 1995 E320 Cabriolet for sale in New York represents the final year for the W124 and this one is mint, showing almost 30,000 miles on the odometer.
Following on to the Mercedes-Benz SL600 Silver Arrow that Andy featured yesterday, here’s an equally rare German flagship from the 1990s: the BMW 850CSI. While a BMW M8 was never officially produced, if you wanted your 8 series coupe with a bit of M flavor this was as close as you were going to get. The E31 8 series wasn’t as popular as its predecessor, the E24 6 series. A little over 30,000 E31s were manufactured in comparison to the longer production run of the E24, which saw over 86,000 examples produced. Out of those 30,000 8 series, only 1,510 were the model you see here. With an increase in capacity to 5.6 liters, the 850CSi cranked out 375 horsepower and was mated exclusively to a 6-speed manual gearbox. With uprated brakes, suspension and Style 21 throwing star alloys, this was a fetching package. This example for sale in North Carolina has yet to cross the 30,000 mile mark, good for those seeking a collector piece.
