1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL

The W126 Mercedes S-Class range was available between 1979 and 1992, a relatively long production run that speaks volumes as to the correctness of the car’s original design and engineering. The second model range to bear the S-Class designation, the W126 was originally offered as a three-box saloon with either a straight-six or a V8 petrol engine, or a turbocharged diesel. The C126, the two-door coupe version, was introduced in 1981, and additional engine options were made available throughout its life. The model name still reflected the engine capacity back then (I know; didn’t that make life simpler?) so the 500SEL you are looking at here is fitted with the five-litre V8 engine. This develops 250bhp and 288lb/ft of torque, enough for a 7.5 seconds sprint to 60mph, which is impressive for a car that weighs more than 1,600kgs and would have enabled the driver to keep pace with even the fastest hot-hatchback. Part of the reason it is so heavy (for the period; it’s practically a lightweight by today’s standards) is because the W126 S-Class is stuffed full of early adopter safety equipment including an optional driver’s airbag (available from 1981), passenger’s airbag (from 1987), traction control (1987), anti-lock brakes (optional until 1985, standard thereafter) plus seat-belt tensioning, crumple zones, and fluted taillights (which cleverly allowed the car to be seen from the rear even when it was dirty) from the very beginning. A topographical sensor on the automatic gearbox pre-empted the GPS-linked gearbox that wowed us on the Rolls-Royce Wraith by several decades; self-levelling hydropneumatic suspension from Citroen was also offered, as was cruise control. The S-Class has always been a luxurious car with eight-way, heated front seats and powered and heated rear seats making an appearance on the options list. Other options include proper climate control and an exterior temperature gauge, both of which we might now take for granted but were ground-breaking innovations at the time.

Specification

From the listing

Listing details are provided by the platform; UrCar is not the seller. Bid and buy on the platform.