Bulletproof Mercedes 500 SEL for sale
We don't mean mechanically. We mean it literally stops bullets...
Now, you hear certain adjectives applied all the time to certain things, to the point where they become superfluous. We know the Queen is ‘dignified’, while Kim Jong Un is a ‘despot’ – or, if you’re North Korean and want to stay alive, ‘glorious’. And when it comes to Mercedes' of old, it’s ‘bulletproof’ that always crops up in the lexicon. So me beginning today’s spotted by telling you that the W126 S-Class is a bulletproof Benz is a bit like walking through Sherwood Forest and shouting excitedly, “Look, tree!” It's all a bit obvious.
Except not this time, though. This time I can talk about a 500 SEL being bulletproof because, well, it is. Literally. It actually resists bullets. And if you don’t believe me, just have a gander at the pictures in the advert. Look at the door glass, for example. It’s thicker than Professor John I.Q Nerdelbaum Frink Jr’s specs – and for those of you who don’t watch the Simpsons, he wears a proper set of coke-bottles in front of his peepers. For this W126 we’re talking a four-slab laminate that, as a guesstimate, must be a silicone sandwich that’s over an inch thick.
What’s fascinating about that is how they could accommodate such huge glass sections in a car without changing the exterior design that dramatically. I mean, take the Presidential Beast. That’s purpose-built. It was designed from the outset with that level of protection in mind, which, by the way, includes even thicker five-inch windows that’ll stop armoured-piercing bullets. But this S-Class is a modified car. Yet, inside and out, it looks pretty much like any other W126. You’d think it would need a completely re-engineered shell to accommodate window frames that thick. The advert doesn’t say what level of protection it offers, but plenty of armoured W126s were made with B6-grade glass, which can arrest bullets from a high-powered rifle like a .380 Winchester.
I once drove an armoured-plated W116 – this car’s predecessor – and the doors were immovable – when they weren't moving to let you in. Solid-billet solid. Made from the sort of gauge material you could hit with a hammer and the only damage would be a broken wrist. That had the 6.9 V8 and it wasn’t that sprightly, I can tell you. But then these cars, by the time they’re fully kitted out, can weigh up to four tonnes. So I can’t imagine this 500 will get anywhere near the 7.3-second 0-60mph time that a regular 500 SEL would've achieved, and don’t expect it to be thrifty to run, either. If you were to break into double figures on the MPG front I’d say that was good going.
As well as the glass and body beefing, there are the tyres and wheels to consider, too. The tyres look pretty puffy, which is presumably because they’ll run when punctured. And I’ve never seen those wheels before on any W126 – have you? They appear to have a double rim, which I assume is something to do with keeping the tyres on if some unsavoury scrotebag decides to take a pop at them because he wants to steal your wallet. Or your head.
I have another question, by the way. If you’re an expert in these things (which clearly I am not) what are the two buttons behind the window switches for? One’s marked ‘Test’ and the other one just has an ‘F’ on it. It’s probably going to be something dead obvious, but I like to think there’s no such thing as a stupid question.
Aside from its modifications, the old girl’s looking damn clean for nearly 40 years’ service – bar some bubbling on the surface here and there. To be fair, that’s not unusual. These cars tend to be waited on by owners who aren’t short of a bob or two. The target customer for an armoured vehicle tends to be a dictator who can dip into the GDP of a country to cover the servicing costs. Whoever ordered this one had good taste, though. He (or maybe she) went for velour instead of leather, which would be my choice for a W126. And the upholstery looks like it’s untouched, but then this car’s travelled just 43,000 miles, which is nothing of course. W126’s are bulletproof, after all.
Specification | Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL (W126)
Engine: 4,973cc, V8, naturally aspirated
Transmission: four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 252 @ 5,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 287 @ 3,750rpm
MPG: Not many
CO2: Many
First registered: 1985
Recorded mileage: 43,000
Price new: A large fortune
Yours for: £29,995
See original advert here
a. Are potential assassination targets.
b. Too poor/tight/keen on 1980s Mercs to get something modern.
Or maybe someone who likes to dress up as Quadafi/Idi Amin/Doc Duvalier before going out for a Sunday drive.
a. Are potential assassination targets.
b. Too poor/tight/keen on 1980s Mercs to get something modern.
Or maybe someone who likes to dress up as Quadafi/Idi Amin/Doc Duvalier before going out for a Sunday drive.
I can’t imagine someone needing protection but also on a budget. “Well, my life is at risk and I value my life…but not that much, this one will do”
Didn’t Salman Rushdie have one of these in London in period? Or at least a W140 version.. when he had a fatwa on him, like a bounty on his head.
I didn’t see the spec of the actual armour.
As someone has already stated; those who really need this level of protection (whatever this is [B6?]) won’t be buying this example.
Except maybe those of the criminal fraternity.
However, back in the day these (and the W116 before them) were glorious vehicles. One of my directors in Singapore had a 300SEL and it was a wonderful way to way to go to lunch from the office. We used to joke that it was the "African Dictator's special". They were beautifully made cars, and a good one still feels like something very special.
It would be interesting to see the actual Armour specs - if B6 as stated - that only means that the glass and armour plate have been tested to a certain limit. The armour can be installed pretty shabbily and still be a 'B6"
re The wheels/tyres - extra rim is to prevent the tyre coming off the wheel. Under neath probably a run flat - ie a belt of acrylic plastic clamped onto the centre of the wheel so when the tyre is done you drive on the plastic rim.
Used to enjoy driver training.... one of our BMW's...
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