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Oscar Wilde once opined “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.†Every time I lay eyes on a Mercedes-Benz S-class from the 1980s, those words come to mind. The W126 was sandwiched between two worlds of luxury cars. That of the W116 S-Class and it’s evolving safety and emissions equipment and the W140 S-class with its girth and over the top engineering. The W126 hits the sweet spot when it comes to executive sedans. It’s advanced without being overly complex, stylish without being trendy and comfortable without feeling like you are driving a sofa down the interstate. The short wheelbase 300SE was the “entry” level S-class towards the end of the production run, perfect for someone who wanted something just a tad smaller who didn’t need the oomph of a V8 engine. This example spotted by our reader Craig is for sale in New Jersey and belies the fact that it’s about to hit six figures on the odometer. It’s appearance looks almost fresh as new.
The 1997 Mercedes-Benz CL500 we featured back in March is back on offer, this time with a $1,000 price reduction.
The below post originally appeared on our site March 6, 2015:
German manufacturers were riding high in the 1980s, solidifying their reputation as makers of some of the world’s best automobiles and introducing new models at a rapid clip. When it was introduced in 1980, the W126 Mercedes-Benz S-class was at the pinnacle of automotive technology. Almost a decade later, it was beginning to show its age but people still loved this car for it’s stately manner and stellar build quality. BMW took the executive car fight right to Stuttgart’s doorstep in 1987 with the introduction of the E32 7 series sedan. Larger and more powerful than its predecessor, this luxury sedan offered V12 power, eclipsing the 5.6 liter V8 at the top of the S-class range.
Today we’ll look at two of the lower-end models in the executive portfolio of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, both with under 30,000 miles on the clock. We’ll start with this 1988 Mercedes-Benz 420SEL for sale in Arizona.
Throughout the years, Mercedes-Benz has dabbled with über sedans to cater to its wealthiest clientele. The 600 was, and still is, considered by many to be a watershed moment in executive motoring. Later on in 1992, the 600SEL was perched atop the S-class range, with it’s 6.0 liter V12 engine and available four-place seating. Their latest chapter saw the revival of a storied name from years past: Maybach. Sadly, the brand lasted but a scant decade, from 2002 to 2012. In the eighties, it was a different story, with the top dog being this car: the 560SEL. From 1986 to 1991, this car was the vehicle of choice for businessmen, celebrities and heads of state the world over. Today, the W126 S-class is still revered for its durability and classic, restrained Mercedes-Benz styling. This 560SEL for sale in California is a minter, with just over 53,000 miles on the clock.
The late 1990s was, in my opinion, a watershed for executive sedans. The much revered BMW E38 7 series was about halfway into its production lifespan, offering up what was arguably one of the best designs the company has ever released. Then we had the Audi A8. In the wake of the V8, which was a bit of a sales disappointment, Audi was back with this all aluminum luxury saloon and even offered a hot version – the S8 – for those who wanted the ultimate high performance luxury express. Then there was the W140 Mercedes-Benz S-class. Having been introduced in 1992, this was a car on its way out, but it still had some fight left in it. Compared to the BMW and Audi, the Mercedes had rather brutal, monolith appearance to it. It was still, however, a supremely capable automobile. The example we see here for sale in Texas is the popular S500 with the 5.0 liter V8. In black over black leather, this completes the iconic look for this CEO express.
