ottobenz said:
@osa72 @OSA72 (1) is am amazing W126, colors, mileage, rare options, especially the reinforced seats. This car has every option available in 1991, including the one-year-only ASR. The only option not selected was the 4-place seating. Any insights why your family chose not to get that option? I can only presume that it was unpalatable to spend thousands more dollars to reduce the seating/functionality from 5 to 4 people. GLWTA on this unicorn.
@KRGMerc the seller is correct, no factory hardtop was ever offered. There was at least one aftermarket hardtop that I've seen on European models, from a company called Weisman I think. But, it was very very expensive, very heavy, and was not a simple plug and play like the R129 hardtops. Given the magnificent insulation and soundproofing of the standard cloth top, I can't imagine anyone really wanting one. Plus, you'd have to store the damn thing whenever not on the car.
@124guy no doubt someone ordered this.. but unless they ordered something particularly unusual, you don't typically pay a fee just to order a car. "special order" would imply there was something non-standard about the order. To be honest, I thought maybe midnight blue was not a standard color (it goes back decades, which is unusual for any particular shade to remain available over decades). Also, starting in the 90s, MBUSA started to limit the colors you could get stateside... the RoW was offered many more colors. Midnight blue might've been in this category by 2000.
Beautiful wagon, especially in Midnight blue which is a color that goes waaayy back with Mercedes-Benz. Any idea what was 'special order' about this car (see window sticker)?
Very unusual spec, aside from the obvious Gulf-spec, wheels and color combo. A quick VIN check indicates ADS (rare and expensive), onboard computer (rare, never available in the US), two-tone horn, elimination of windshield washer heating element, and elimination of catalytic converters. Obviously the AMG body kit also quite rare.
Very nice unicorn here. Interesting spec being 'basement' model 260 with steelies/plastic wheel covers, but optioned with leather, power windows, automatic, sunroof, BOSE speakers, and A/C. Manual A/C likely more reliable than the usual fully automatic version. Pretty sure there is no airbag on this car, maybe listing can be corrected (although my guess is that no one really cares if equipped with airbag or not tbh). Being short wheelbase AND euro bumpers means this is almost a full foot shorter than the usual SELs we see here. GLWTA
beautiful looking 450SEL you have here! I have a 1980 450SEL as well, based on VIN mine was built 43 units ahead of yours (also in Nov, 1979). Have had mine for 15 years and can say these W116's still impress. Such solid cars with real presence. Good luck with the auction!
This is a real unicorn. Mercedes made 2,136 of these over 7 years including series 1, 2, and 3 W124s (averaging around 300 per year). This is a series-2 W124, so I'd estimate this is one of maybe 1200 units ever made. Wonder how many have survived? Never sold in the US though.
What a unicorn, the color, the upholstery, the engine!
I have to wonder/ask: why sell after only 8 months of ownership, especially after having replaced tires/wheels?
@andyc3wow, glad to hear someone else trying to capture 300CE data. Happy to send you my list if you share your email. I'm at [email protected]. My main purpose was to understand exterior and interior color percentages, as I purchased a 1993 Nautical blue over blue leather cabriolet last year, and realized that I'd never seen that combo before. Turns out, after capturing about 252 VINs (1993-1995) blues (Nautical, Midnight, Azurite, Ice) are rare. And blue leather is rare. The blue on blue especially rare (although this Light Ivory/Brazil might be unique). Anyway, looking forward to sharing data.
Light Ivory is exceedingly rare. Was only available on the cabriolets in 1993 model year.. Brazil interior also very rare. I've been compiling a registry of A124s and currently have 41 VINs from the 1993 model year (out of 766 imported, or 5.4%). This is the first and only Light Ivory 300CE I've come across. I've only ever seen Brazil on 3 VINs (including this one), all from the 1993 model year. With low miles, this one should do very well.
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38k-Mile 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL
ottobenz said:
@osa72 @OSA72 (1) is am amazing W126, colors, mileage, rare options, especially the reinforced seats. This car has every option available in 1991, including the one-year-only ASR. The only option not selected was the 4-place seating. Any insights why your family chose not to get that option? I can only presume that it was unpalatable to spend thousands more dollars to reduce the seating/functionality from 5 to 4 people. GLWTA on this unicorn.1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet
ottobenz said:
@KRGMerc the seller is correct, no factory hardtop was ever offered. There was at least one aftermarket hardtop that I've seen on European models, from a company called Weisman I think. But, it was very very expensive, very heavy, and was not a simple plug and play like the R129 hardtops. Given the magnificent insulation and soundproofing of the standard cloth top, I can't imagine anyone really wanting one. Plus, you'd have to store the damn thing whenever not on the car.One-Owner 2000 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
ottobenz said:
@124guy no doubt someone ordered this.. but unless they ordered something particularly unusual, you don't typically pay a fee just to order a car. "special order" would imply there was something non-standard about the order. To be honest, I thought maybe midnight blue was not a standard color (it goes back decades, which is unusual for any particular shade to remain available over decades). Also, starting in the 90s, MBUSA started to limit the colors you could get stateside... the RoW was offered many more colors. Midnight blue might've been in this category by 2000.One-Owner 2000 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
ottobenz said:
Beautiful wagon, especially in Midnight blue which is a color that goes waaayy back with Mercedes-Benz. Any idea what was 'special order' about this car (see window sticker)?Euro 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SL
ottobenz said:
Very unusual spec, aside from the obvious Gulf-spec, wheels and color combo. A quick VIN check indicates ADS (rare and expensive), onboard computer (rare, never available in the US), two-tone horn, elimination of windshield washer heating element, and elimination of catalytic converters. Obviously the AMG body kit also quite rare.Euro 1989 Mercedes-Benz 260SE
ottobenz said:
Very nice unicorn here. Interesting spec being 'basement' model 260 with steelies/plastic wheel covers, but optioned with leather, power windows, automatic, sunroof, BOSE speakers, and A/C. Manual A/C likely more reliable than the usual fully automatic version. Pretty sure there is no airbag on this car, maybe listing can be corrected (although my guess is that no one really cares if equipped with airbag or not tbh). Being short wheelbase AND euro bumpers means this is almost a full foot shorter than the usual SELs we see here. GLWTA1980 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL
ottobenz said:
beautiful looking 450SEL you have here! I have a 1980 450SEL as well, based on VIN mine was built 43 units ahead of yours (also in Nov, 1979). Have had mine for 15 years and can say these W116's still impress. Such solid cars with real presence. Good luck with the auction!1990 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo 4Matic
ottobenz said:
This is a real unicorn. Mercedes made 2,136 of these over 7 years including series 1, 2, and 3 W124s (averaging around 300 per year). This is a series-2 W124, so I'd estimate this is one of maybe 1200 units ever made. Wonder how many have survived? Never sold in the US though.1985 Mercedes-Benz 420SEC
ottobenz said:
What a unicorn, the color, the upholstery, the engine!1988 Mercedes-Benz 420SEL
ottobenz said:
I have to wonder/ask: why sell after only 8 months of ownership, especially after having replaced tires/wheels?1993 Mercedes-Benz 300CE Cabriolet w/26k Miles
ottobenz said:
@andyc3wow, glad to hear someone else trying to capture 300CE data. Happy to send you my list if you share your email. I'm at [email protected]. My main purpose was to understand exterior and interior color percentages, as I purchased a 1993 Nautical blue over blue leather cabriolet last year, and realized that I'd never seen that combo before. Turns out, after capturing about 252 VINs (1993-1995) blues (Nautical, Midnight, Azurite, Ice) are rare. And blue leather is rare. The blue on blue especially rare (although this Light Ivory/Brazil might be unique). Anyway, looking forward to sharing data.1993 Mercedes-Benz 300CE Cabriolet w/26k Miles
ottobenz said:
Light Ivory is exceedingly rare. Was only available on the cabriolets in 1993 model year.. Brazil interior also very rare. I've been compiling a registry of A124s and currently have 41 VINs from the 1993 model year (out of 766 imported, or 5.4%). This is the first and only Light Ivory 300CE I've come across. I've only ever seen Brazil on 3 VINs (including this one), all from the 1993 model year. With low miles, this one should do very well.