Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
There is something really satisfyingly to me about about a car finished in a great shade of green. It is easily my favorite color if I have the choice, so when a great classic Mercedes-Benz shows up in a unique shade, you take a closer look. This 1983 380SEC is finished in Cypress Green Metallic over a very period-correct Brazil Beige cloth interior. It shows just 65,000 miles and thankfully looks every bit the part. However, this one comes with price tag more fit for a 560SEC.
More often than not, the final iteration of vehicle within a production run turns out to be the best. It could be argued this was the case with the Mercedes-Benz W126 S-class. Making its debut in the early 1980s and lasting in production through 1991, there were many technical advancements along the way, with a facelift that streamlined the look in 1986. However, that leaves a bunch of cars from early days of a production run sitting around like unwanted step children, hence the case with this 380SEC for sale in Colorado. I much prefer the updated look and greater power from the later 560SEC, but one look over this grand coupe tells me this is no ordinary SEC, looking perfectly preserved at well over 30 years of age.
While I can’t say that I’m much of a fan of current Mercedes-Benz products, driving down the road the other day I stumbled across a European specification 500SEC. Now, W126s amazingly aren’t an uncommon sight by me, perhaps a testament to their build quality and enduring appeal. But that big coupe that I saw just stood out – it was as if 18-odd feet of 1985 had been transported back in time. Unlike many of the beaten and tired looking SELs that clatter along the street, a subtle V8 burble crept from under the hood of this pristine time capsule. It was shiny and looked near new and was a reminder of days gone by. Is the W126 Coupe the best looking Mercedes-Benz? Not by a long shot, at least to me. But the package which is the SEC may be one of the best, balancing comfort, style, speed and dependability with affordability. Add the Euro-spec items to that list, and the package is a home run:
The clean looking 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SEC from back in November has reappeared on eBay, this time with a “Buy It Now” of $6,450. As last time it was a reserve auction, we at least now know what the seller is hoping to get out of this big coupe. To me, while the 560SEC may be more fun and the 500SEC Euro cars slightly more attractive, overall this is a nice period package for a reasonable sum and looks like a good way to get into a classic and pretty reliable Mercedes-Benz!
There’s just something about the W126 coupe that I find captivating. It’s not the most attractive Mercedes-Benz ever made, but the combination of the large body with the sweeping roof lines somehow works just perfectly. There were quite a few of these coupes made in several different configurations, and we’ve featured just about all of them. The last one I wrote up was the most rare; The 420SEC European model that officially never came to the U.S.. But while we’ve seen our fair share of 500 grey market imports and the “normal” 560SEC, it’s easy to forget it all started in the U.S. with the smaller motored 380SEC. Only around 11,000 of these early models were built; about 1/3 of the production of each the 500 or 560 models. A few decades on, they’re fairly rare to see but still a treat:
