This 1986 Mercedes-Benz 420SEL shows only 14,852 original miles from new. The car was first registered in Massachusetts where it received regular servicing by Viti Mercedes-Benz in Rhode Island. The car relocated to New York for a short period in 2017 and now resides in California with the current owner. Finished in Smoke Silver Metallic (702) over Brazil Brown Leather (273), power is provided by a 4.2-liter M116 V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes a steel sunroof, 15″ Gullideckel alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats, power windows, a Becker cassette stereo, automatic climate control, and cruise control. This W126 420SEL is now offered on dealer consignment with service records, manufacturer's literature, full-size spare, tool kit, a clean Carfax report, and a clean California title.
The car is finished in Smoke Silver Metallic (702) with darker lower cladding and matching bumpers. Exterior features include a power-operated steel sunroof with tilt function, European-market headlight with wipers, power-adjustable side mirrors, a power-telescoping antenna, tinted rear windows, and chrome window and bumper trim. The front of the car has paint protection film (PPF) applied to preserve the paint. The seller has provided detailed photos of the paint and trimin the gallery.
The factory silver-finished 15″ Gullideckel alloy wheels are mounted with 205/65 Michelin Defender tires with 2022 date codes. Braking is handled by power-assisted four-wheel discs with ABS. A brake fluid flush was performed in 2025. A full-size spare wheel and tire is located under the trunk floor along with the original tool roll.
The interior is finished in Brazil Brown Leather (273) with a color-matching center console, door panels, dashboard, and carpets. Interior appointments include power-adjustable front seats, a rear bench seat, power windows, a magnetic phone mount, a Becker cassette stereo, automatic climate control, and cruise control. The original Becker head unit has been rebuilt and the left rear window regulator was replaced in 2025.
The four-spoke steering wheel frames a 160-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 6k-rpm redline as well as an analog clock and gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, and instant fuel economy. The six-digit odometer shows 15k miles, approximately 4k of which were added by the current owner.
The 4.2-liter M116 V8 features Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection and was rated at 201 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. A transmission service with fresh fluid and filter was performed in 2025. The drive belts and radiator hoses were also replaced in 2025. A notable service is documented on the Carfax from 2017 which included an extensive amount of maintenance performed. The A/C compressor also shows replaced most recently in 2024.
The Carfax report lists no accidents or other reported damage, along with linear mileage updates since new. The car is now located in Burlingame, California with only 14,852 miles showing.
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14 Comments
Thanks to all for supporting the car. Working with my client on the money.$33,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
Getting closer...$32,500 bid placed by @yachtclub
$32,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$31,500 bid placed by @yachtclub
$31,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$30,500 bid placed by @yachtclub
$30,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$29,500 bid placed by @mrbenzman
$29,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$28,500 bid placed by @yachtclub
$28,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$27,500 bid placed by @yachtclub
$27,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$26,500 bid placed by @mrbenzman
$26,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$25,500 bid placed by @mrbenzman
$25,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$23,750 bid placed by @Grahamtown
$23,500 bid placed by @yachtclub
$23,000 bid placed by @Martin1983
$22,000 bid placed by @yachtclub
$21,250 bid placed by @300SL
$21,000 bid placed by @yachtclub
$20,250 bid placed by @DLC32
@Karam Thanks for the note. No leakage, just a heavy coating of factory applied honey colored cosmoline protectant.sorry coming in little late, one question, is there a leack in the rear axel , pictures showing some under carriageLast few hours to acquire this investment grade 1986 420SEL. I encourage bidders to look at all 397 images again to fully understand the condition and provenance of the car. I feel it’s a non-repeatable example that exemplifies the era when Mercedes-Benz set the standard for build quality and durability. The car will be sold as-is with no warranty implied or otherwise. The winning bid constitutes a commitment to purchase the car. A California buyer will pay all applicable sales tax and license fees unless he/she is a currently licensed automobile dealer in the state. I can house the car at my gallery until the new owner is able to arrange trucking. Payment is to be completed via a bank wire within 3 business days of the auction’s close. Bidders should refresh their browsers regularly during the last minutes of the auction to insure they are seeing the latest bids. It’s generally not wise to try to place bids in the last seconds of the auction. They’re occasionally not processed. Looking forward to a strong close!@TheBoss Thanks for the note. See my comment June 21st. Front of the car has PPF applied for protection. Only paintwork was to the deck lid.$20,000 bid placed by @mrbenzman
Had the car a accident in the front ( because of the paint depth readings )$17,250 bid placed by @DLC32
$17,000 bid placed by @greenerwg
$16,750 bid placed by @classicdad
$16,500 bid placed by @Grahamtown
$16,250 bid placed by @300SL
$16,000 bid placed by @DLC32
$15,250 bid placed by @300SL
Photos of paint meter readings have been added to the gallery.$15,000 bid placed by @Grahamtown
$13,500 bid placed by @greenerwg
@TheBoss Good question. I didn't upload the paint depth readings in my initial submission! Just sent them to The MB Market for uploading. The deck lid was painted at some time in the car's life. You'll see the readings shortly. Hood measurements reflect the Paint Protection Film (PPF) my client had applied. Hope this helps.are there any repaints ?$13,250 bid placed by @TheBoss
$13,000 bid placed by @Motorman
@Tachero Good question. This car had no undercarriage panel when it arrived.This is simply perfect. If you could have put a vehicle in a time capsule, this appears to be it! LOVE the Euro headlights. I wish.... Meanwhile, how did you 'steal' this from Dean??? 🤣$12,000 bid placed by @300SL
Welcome all to my extraordinary 1986 420SEL auction. This is an exceptional ‘no excuses’ example that I carefully vetted before offering it. I encourage everyone to carefully look at all 392 images to fully understand the condition of the car. It's certainly one of the best examples in the country. The car can be inspected and driven at my gallery in Burlingame, CA – 5 minutes south of SFO. Pre-purchase inspections can be arranged locally. Feel free to drop me a note via the message seller link with any questions. Looking forward to an exciting auction!Beautiful example of the best car in the world in the 80s. Excuse my ignorance, but were the undercarriage panels removed for the photos or did cars even come with those panels back then?$10,000 bid placed by @Grahamtown