This 1986 Mercedes-Benz 260SE was delivered new to Tenerife in the Canary Islands and remained with its original owner there until 2022. It was then sold to a dealer near Bilbao, Spain, who kept the car in his personal collection until early 2026. The current seller subsequently acquired the car and imported it to the United States via Southampton, England. Finished in Diamond Blue Metallic (355) over Blue MB-Tex (172), power is provided by a naturally aspirated 2.6-liter M103 inline-six paired with a factory 5-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. The European-market specification comes with crank-operated windows, steel wheels with full covers, air conditioning, heat-insulating glass, heated exterior mirrors, and a folding front armrest. The odometer currently shows only 38,121 kilometers, or approximately 24k miles. The seller reports an oil service, replacement filters, and a coolant flush within the last year. This 260SE is now offered with its original books and documentation, and a clean Illinois title.
The body is finished in Diamond Blue Metallic (355) with contrasting lower cladding, chrome beltline trim, and the slimmer bumpers and market-specific lighting associated with European W126s. The seller reports that paint-meter readings indicate original paint throughout, with most readings around 150 microns or higher and a lowest reading of approximately 111 microns. Cosmetic imperfections include a scuff through the paint on the right-front bumper corner, and additional chips and scuffs along the lower body trim. The rear bumper shows a few larger marks, including scratches around the right and left corners.
Factory 15” steel wheels wear full Mercedes-Benz Euro wheel covers and are mounted with Michelin Energy tires measuring 205/65R15 at all four corners. The tires show late-2004 date codes and are due for replacement based on age. The wheel covers present well overall, with light scuffing and scratches visible on the driver-side pair, minimal curb rash elsewhere, and a larger paint chip along the outer edge of the right-front cover. Behind them, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes provide stopping power and complete the period-correct setup.
The cabin is trimmed in Blue MB-Tex (172) with matching carpeting and door panels, while wood veneer accents the dashboard and center console. The sparse European specification is part of the charm, with crank-operated windows in place of the power units typically found on U.S.-market W126s. Factory amenities include air conditioning, a folding front armrest, heat-insulating glass, and heated exterior mirrors. The seats remain in impressive condition for their age, and the wood veneer has also held up well with no significant cracking. Minor scratches are visible on the center console and lower dashboard trim, while the driver-side door panel shows some light scuffing. The headliner remains in very good condition with no notable sagging.
The four-spoke steering wheel fronts metric instrumentation consisting of a speedometer, tachometer, analog clock, and gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and instant fuel economy. The six-digit odometer currently indicates 38,121 kilometers (approximately 24k miles).
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 2.6-liter M103 inline-six, factory rated at approximately 164 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels, a notably uncommon configuration for a W126. The original Mercedes-Benz maintenance booklet accompanies the car and retains period service stamps from its years in Spain. Spanish inspection paperwork dated August 2024 records 37,784 kilometers, reaffirming the current odometer reading. The seller reports that an engine oil service, filter replacement, and coolant flush were completed within the last year. The underside is reported to remain notably clean with no visible rust, including along the exhaust.
Documentation with the car includes the original books, Spanish service and inspection paperwork, and seller-provided paint-meter readings. No Carfax report is available for this European-market example. Now showing 38,121 kilometers, the car is located in Arlington, Virginia and this 260SE is offered with a clean Illinois title.
Most Americans picture a W126 as a long-wheelbase V8 with nearly every luxury option Mercedes could throw at it, which makes this 260SE feel like the European cousin you never knew the family had. In 1986, the U.S. sedan lineup leaned heavily toward automatic, higher-spec cars, while European buyers could still order a short-wheelbase six-cylinder S-Class with a 5-speed manual. Then there’s the specification itself. Crank windows, full wheel covers, a 2.6-liter straight-six, and three pedals sound almost contradictory in an S-Class, but that’s exactly what gives this car so much personality. You still get the bank-vault W126 structure, Sacco proportions, and proper S-Class cabin, just without layers of equipment between you and the car. The slimmer Euro bumpers and headlights make the W126 look a little leaner and more elegant, while the short wheelbase and manual gearbox give the 260SE a lighter, more involved character than the big SELs most enthusiasts know. Add just 38k kilometers, original Diamond Blue paint, a remarkably preserved Blue interior, and a history that stretches from Tenerife to northern Spain and eventually the United States, and you’ve got a wonderfully odd corner of W126 history. It may not be the fastest S-Class, but it could be one of the purest.
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