During this year’s Amelia Island Concours, I had the opportunity to drive my good friend Forrest’s Mercedes-Benz 500SEL. It had been years since I had ridden in one of these, and I came away stunned. The car still felt like the best-built car in the world despite mileage of more than 150,000 on the clock. Every part of this car felt first-class. The driving experience was typical 1980s Mercedes, which I will call sportingly soft — sporting enough to handle a curvy road at speed but soft enough not to disturb passengers. What was most surprising is just how usable this 40-plus year-old was today. The Pick of the Day is the final version of these amazing cars, a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Henderson, Nevada.
The seller describes this 560SEL as being powered by its original 5.6L V8 and that it delivers effortless performance, while its plush leather interior, burled wood trim, and advanced for its time features ensure a driving experience that still feels refined today. This Mercedes is painted in factory Champagne Metallic over a Palomino leather interior. Total mileage is 85,884.
The 560SEL was the last of the W126 S-Class cars. Most Mercedes enthusiasts consider the W126 cars like this one as the very best-built S-Class Mercedes ever. These S-Classes were built for heads of state, CEOs, and others so, as a result, are uncompromising in their workmanship. They have a bank vault quality to them and are constructed with materials that seem to hold up better than anything else before or since.
The photos provided make this car look to be practically a show-quality example. The paint looks fantastic, with no evidence of any dents or other issues.
The interior is the same, with the leather interior, wood trim, dash, and carpets all looking to be in exceptional condition. If you consider that the sticker price in 1988 was $76,660, it is not surprising that the owner took great care of this Mercedes.
The engine compartment is the same, with everything looking exceptionally clean and correct. I see no evidence of any incorrect parts, rust, damage, or anything else. With only 85,000 on the odometer, you can think of this car as just broken-in.
The underside is simply unbelievable. This car looks literally as nice as when it was first delivered. There is no evidence of rust, slight corrosion, or damage of any kind. This 560SEL is literally the best example of a W126 S-Class I have ever seen. Be sure to look at the other photos in the gallery to see how amazing the condition of the underside and inner wheel wells are in.
Now for the best part: Unlike the 560SL, the market for the 560SEL is much more affordable and may well represent the best value of any high-end European car from the 1980s. Doubt that? Well, the asking price of this 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL is only $30,980. I doubt you can find another car of this caliber in this condition for less money. Buy it now before everyone else gets a ride in one of these amazing cars and sees what a value they represent in today’s collector car market.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
