Two weeks ago, I was taking a stroll around Helsinki on what turned out to be a fine Saturday afternoon. While sitting outside a cafe, an automotive oddity passed by. A short wheelbase Mercedes-Benz W126 with a big engine, in this case the 500SE with its 5.0 liter V8. Here in the US, we received two V8 S-classes from 1986 through 1991, the 420SEL and 560SEL, both long-wheelbase models. Apparently the product planners at Mercedes-Benz didn’t think there was much of a market for a big Benz with a large engine but smaller backseat. I always enjoyed the proportions of the 300SE that we received, the short-wheelbase W126 with the venerable M103 inline-6. But who doesn’t like a little bit more juice? This 500SE for sale in The Netherlands in Nelken (Willow) Green over green leather is cresting 40,000 miles and is the perfect cure for someone who still pines for the good old days of Mercedes-Benz.
