Moving on from the low mileage 560SL we saw yesterday, let’s take a look at that car’s sedan contemporary, the 560SEL. Germany has always been renowned for large luxury sedans, but the standard bearer of this segment for years has been the S-class. Of all the S-classes to have come and gone, my favorite was perhaps the one from the era of my childhood, the W126. Combining the durability of a W123 with the stateliness of a presidential limo, these cars were really in a class of their own for over a decade. Even when production ended in 1991, they were still at the head of the class when it came to safety, performance and luxury. Sure, it might have looked a little dated in the early 1990s, but looking back, this Bruno Sacco design has aged quite well. If I was about to take the W126 plunge, I would probably stick with the ministerial look and choose black. This 1989 560SEL for sale in Florida is quite mint, though, showing only 52,000 miles on the odometer. It does, however, remind me why I would never move to the Sunshine State. I don’t have enough white belts. Or cars.
Category: Mercedes Benz
So much attention is levied upon the V8 and widebody models AMG produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s that it’s easy to overlook the “lesser” examples from Affalterbach. One such model is the 3.4E, based on the W124 chassis and available in sedan, coupe or wagon versions the M104 was beefed up in typical AMG fashion. Displacing 3.4 liters (clever naming scheme, that!) and producing nearly 270 horsepower it was certainly no slouch. However, its relative obscurity and lower power output means it plays second (or third) fiddle to the 6.0 V8 models and even Mercedes-Benz’s own 500E. While those cars put out substantially more power and raise more eyebrows than the inline-6 will at any German car meetup, the 3.4E is nevertheless a potent package that offers enthusiasts a taste of classic AMG performance on a more reasonable budget:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E AMG 3.4E on eBay
Comments closedIf it was sheer class you were after in the 1980s, there were few better options than the Mercedes-Benz R107 SL. This car lasted in production over an amazing 19 year span and aged rather gracefully, save for perhaps the requisite crash bumpers that appeared in the early 1970s on US models. The close of the 1980s would be the curtain call for this timeless roadster, with the final example, a Signal Red 500SL roadster, rolling off the line in early August of 1989. This 1989 560SL is painted in one of my favorite hues, Bordeaux Red over Parchment leather. With less than 20,000 miles from new, this is a strong candidate for the collector.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL on eBay
3 CommentsSome days it seems that no stone has been left unturned when it comes to the world of collector cars, but if you dig deep enough, there are still gems to be found. The W114/W115 Mercedes-Benzes, also known as the Strich Acht (or Stroke Eight) was not a particularly flashy or eye-catching vehicle, but this was the first post war Mercedes-Benz to use an all-new chassis. This car would last through 1976, when the W123 would carry the baton into the 1980s, making a name for itself around unmatched durability. In 1974, the OM617 inline-5 diesel would appear in the form of the 300D, an engine that would carry over to the W123 and even live on through 1991 in the G-Class. This 1975 300D for sale outside of Philadelphia has under 70,000 miles on the clock and certainly looks the part, ready to log another 70,000 miles in very short order.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1975 Mercedes-Benz 300D on eBay
1 CommentNiche vehicles are always a funny thing. The BMW M Coupe was derided for its weird styling when it debuted in the late 1990s and wasn’t a big seller. But now, these rare sport coupes are wildly popular in the collector car market. While you could consider the R-class a niche vehicle on its own, Mercedes-Benz toyed with the idea of an AMG version of this people mover around 10 years ago. This fast van hung around for one model year and as such, has been relegated to an almost persona non grata status amongst Mercedes history. However, any car with 503 horsepower that can seat six in comfort should at least be given a second look. This R63 AMG for sale in Washington state is one of approximately 30 to 40 examples that were sold in the US, out of a total production of under 200 worldwide. If you need space with pace, there are few choices more rad than this one.