Thursday 6th February 2014

Merc SEC Gullwing: You Know You (Don't) Want To

Why spend millions on a 300SL Gullwing when there's a 500 SEC version for just $19,500?!

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And you thought the Rinspeed flatnosed 911 conversion we saw last time we were in Palm Springs was the most excessive display of vulgar 80s excess? You thought wrong!

Too brazen even for California?

In town for the Bentley Continental GT V8 S launch we couldn't resist a small diversion and return visit to the McCormick's auction house to see if there was anything else worth a gander. And boy did we strike gold! Just look at this beauty...

So what is it? Well, the card in the window rather stated the bleeding obvious and little more. 'Mercedes 500 SEC. 1983. Gull wing.' Yup, kind of already gathered that. A little further sleuthing about reveals this car has been 'outed' online already, Jalopnik picking up on it for a 'Nice price or crack pipe' story back in December in which the car was identified as the work of Styling Garage. You can read more about the cars here on 1000SEL.com. Indeed, it seems SGS was one of many offering such conversions back in the day - just check the rogue's gallery here.

Check out those bolsters!

I once met god of 80s Mercedes styling Bruno Sacco and he described the 126-series SEC as his favourite of the cars he designed in the period. And the standard SEC is indeed an elegant, refined and handsome beast with a finely judged sense of status and poise. Imposing but not arrogant, luxurious but not decadent it's a car any PHer might like to waft around in, pillarless side windows lowered and lazy V8 throbbing away.

Going by the deference of the Mercedes lackeys to him Sacco is not the kind of chap you'd want to upset so you'd hope he never cast eyes on this violation of his favourite coupe. In period SGS weren't the only ones of course, Koenig also offering wild widebody twin-turbo SECs with that 80s aftermarket styling essential - Testarossa side strakes - in full effect.

Even considered in the context of the times this is pretty full-on though. And now? Whew, what to say. Even in California this'd be a brave choice.

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MERCEDES 500SEC GULLWING BY STYLING GARAGE
Price: $19,500 plus buyer premium
Why you should: You'll stand out
Why you shouldn't: For the wrong reasons

[Sources: McCormick's, 1000SEL.com, Jalopnik]

 

 

[mrclav]

If one was trying to be ironic I could see the appeal. It's so bad, it's gone full circle and become good... In the most kitsch 80s excess way. I could imagine a "wolf of wall street" type driving this thing in its heyday.

[r11co]

Bar the fact that gullwing doors are a stupid idea, and the rear parcel shelf looks Barried, I quite like it.

[crostonian]

Love it! That's quite tame compared to some of it's contempories, almost tasteful..

[Bill]

mrclav said:

If one was trying to be ironic I could see the appeal. It's so bad, it's gone full circle and become good... In the most kitsch 80s excess way. I could imagine a "wolf of wall street" type driving this thing in its heyday.

I started reading this with that in mind, but it's no longer pillarless which is kind of the whole point. My kids would love it though

[soad]

Horrid thing. No, thanks.

[HemiCommander]

I had a white 560 SEC which was gorgeous but why would you do that to one . There really is no accounting for taste.

[only1ian]

Doors aside I actually like the interior!

[daveco]

Give me an AMG widebody instead

[sim16v]

I can trump that.

How about a Styling Garage SEC, but with wide body as well



[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/CnD9K9zL[/url

[soad]

daveco said:

Give me an AMG widebody instead

That's more like it.

[athol]

daveco said:

Give me an AMG widebody instead

That's lovely Dave.

I had a 420SEC a few years ago and tried to find a proper AMG. Rare as hen's teeth.

[FWDRacer]

Gulzar - your thread has arrived. They've already started royally f*cking this one up ready for your own unique brand of taste(lessness).

[The Nur]

I like it. Sort the parcel shelf out and I'd drive that about.

[Dapster]

crostonian said:

Love it! That's quite tame compared to some of it's contempories, almost tasteful..

Indeed - it's a bit of a shrinking violet compared to what you could have spent your dollars on....



It really needs more gold flake leather and candy apply paint...




Or look more like a motorway services toilet from 1984....




It's all such a tragedy really. The W126 really was Merc's finest hour.

[AndrewSV]

I like it...

[Ari]

I was watching an episode of Miami Vice last night coincidently, and a drug dealer rocked up in one of these.





A 500SEC Koenig Special, the ultimate in eighties cool!

[nonplussed]

No amount of 80s nostalgia could ever make that OK. What a violation of, as someone says above, MB's finest hour.

[Midshipracer]

daveco said:

Give me an AMG widebody instead

Truly stunning! I will have this and the S class 500 of the same era at some point

[f1ten]

the Sbarro SEC was just out of this world. yes over the top but a properly custom hand made car and for all that hardwork, it still makes it a collectors piece.

[MrB.]

A 500SEC Koenig Special, the ultimate in eighties cool!
[/quote]


With a very apt numberplate it would seem.......