The C126, the coupe based on the W126 S-class, is a firm favorite around here. And for good reason: the lines penned by famed designer Bruno Sacco have aged very well, and these cars still command great road presence even today. With the C126, you get the stately good looks and bank-vault build quality of an S-class, but repackaged into a slinky, pillarless bodyshape. Collectors might want to park their money in ultra low mileage examples. But I think these cars deserve to be driven and enjoyed – they’re wonderful grand tourers, ideal for covering vast distances while keeping the passengers inside cosseted in safety, comfort and style.
Tag: Astral Silver Metallic
1981 Mercedes-Benz 280E
I knew I had to write this one up as soon as I clicked through the link.  In my opinion the W123 platform is the peak of Mercedes’ restrained design that is still head turning and beautiful. It is truly hard to imagine any automaker coming up with such a tidy package these days, especially Mercedes, what with their current love of creases, creases and more creases. This is truly an elegant machine, built for cruising out to the country house with family or the beach house with the tennis instructor, either way you’d get there in comfort and style.
I’m a big fan of the Astral Silver paint on this extremely low mile example. It can appear to have a greenish tinge to it when in the right light, really a unique look that fits the vibe of the car perfectly. I hope the buyer lives in New York too because that plate looks just right. It’s a very minor detail that people often overlook on their otherwise obsessed over vehicles but I think a license plate can make or break the look of a car. In this case, it is very much make, thanks largely in part to the yellow euro lights.
Of course the interior is something to behold as well. It’s perfectly sparse, like a corner office in 1970s Germany. One of the things I like most about the W123 is that it’s a 70s design that carried over into the 80s. Sure I’m a fan of the W124 as well because they’re practically indestructible and it’s the first Mercedes I ever rode in but it doesn’t hold a candle to its predecessor. Years of beautiful Bavarian design influence is clearly evident in this car and it’s not hard to see why they’re collector items for people who simply love great design.
Click for details: 1981Â Mercedes Benz 280EÂ on eBay
1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SEC
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:
