1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL
“ Built to an almost unimaginably high quality, the W126 is one of life’s survivors. ”
Treat it to some fresh oil every now and then and it’ll soldier on.

Background
The W126 Mercedes S-Class range was available to the public for the 14 years 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 as well as 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?) which means that the 500SEL you are looking at here is fitted with the 4,973cc V8 engine that develops 248bhp and 288lb/ft of torque, enough to reach 62mph in 7.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 143mph.

And that’s despite it weighing more than the average bear thanks to being 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.

Of course, the S-Class was also a luxurious car with eight-way heated front seats, plus the option of powered and heated rear seats. It also features a proper climate control system and an exterior temperature gauge, both of which we might take for granted now but were ground-breaking innovations at the time.

Overview
With just three former keepers and fewer than 79,000 miles on the odometer, this Pearl Grey Metallic 500SEL was meticulously serviced until it was laid up in 2003. It spent the next 15 slumbering, remerging in 2018 only to be serviced again.

After spending its first years in Northern Ireland, G434 ELB’s UK MoT record starts in 2024, where it passed both tests with flying colours.

Part of a small collection since May 2023, the seller’s kept it under a cover in a dry garage, only wheeling it out for high days and holidays.

Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000

View The Current Bid Price HERE