Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Last month we featured two very clean Mercedes-Benz 560SELs, the pinnacle of the lineup for Mercedes-Benz at the time. Now another two low mileage examples have come out of the woodwork, for those pining for the good old days. The first 560SEL we’ll take a look at is exactly how I would want mine kitted out, in black over black leather. The W126 design has aged well, blending an even amount of classic and modern touches for a look that would be hard to be improved upon.
No matter how many successive generations of S classes pass us by, I always look back to the W126 as the gold standard of executive transport. The W116 of the 1970s was a thoroughly capable car if a bit unloved. The W140 that succeeded the W126 was a technological tour de force but was a bit brutish in terms of its size and complexity. The W220 that came after that was derided as a bit unreliable during the dark days of Mercedes-Benz products in the early part of the 21st century. The last and current generations of S classes have moved the luxury sedan game very much forward, but the technology is a bit over the top for me, which has me going back to the W126 for simpler, albeit capable performance and motoring pleasure.
The two following 560SELs represent the flagship of the lineup for the period between 1986 and 1991. The first one we will look at is a very low mileage example for sale in Arizona in a classic combination of black over parchment leather.
Earlier this year, I struck a few chords with my AMG 500SEC post. The questions of AMG authenticity were once again brought up, reminding us that pre-merger there is still some fuzzy areas regarding these AMGS. As with that SEC, the full documentation of production and maintenance records were key to the value of these boutique cars, and enthusiasts are willing to pay for the right one. Also like that SEC, this later run 1990 560 SEL is fully documented from Japan – but unlike that earlier car, this SEL has the full-fat 6.0 V8 fitted:
Like the Porsche 928 we featured yesterday, this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL for sale in New York brought up memories from my childhood. I remember coming back from an auto show and scanning the pages of the latest Mercedes brochure to come across a picture of a similar black on black 560SEL. The flagship of arguably one of the most revered luxury brands, this was a car with few equals. With a rear seat that measured almost five feet across, this was a conveyance for dignitaries and celebrities. While it started to seem a little bit dated towards the end of the production run in 1991, people still clamored to buy these über sedans and many are still pressed into service today. With only 50,000 miles on the odometer, this is one W126 that has lots of life left to give.
The W126 S class was one of those cars that defined an era for Mercedes-Benz. A stately sedan, this car had smooth V8 power and…
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