Trying to identify a Merc I sat in at motorshow years ago.

[Emeye]

Okay, I'm hoping some of you Merc experts can help me as my long-term memory is diabolical.

The same year that the A-class was launched to the UK public at the NEC in Birmingham, there was this fantastic, huge, blacker than black Merc on a plinth above them, but no-one was interested in it apart from moi - I fell in love!

I'm guessing the year was 1997 or 98 as according to Parkers the A-class was on sale from 1998.

I'm pretty sure it was an AMG - it was black with darkened glass and black leather and I think it may have been de-chromed. I sat in it, shut the door and just thought one day I will have one of these.

I was reminded of it by the black Merc on the Pistonheads Show display.

So does anyone have an idea what it may be - I was thinking it may have been a CE-class coupe, but according to Parkers this ended production in 96, and I seem to recall it was a saloon, but I could be wrong.

Cheer

[Pete 55]

Was it 2008 or 1997/1998? (You said a year ago)

At that time, the big sedans would have been the W140 S Class (also the two door CL420-Cl600). These cars were behemoths. The W210 E55 was just out in 1998 (previously E36).

If it was last year, there are many more models: CLS, S, E all are large 4 door cars that all have pretty good looks in black.

[Emeye]

Pete 55 said:

Was it 2008 or 1997/1998? (You said a year ago)

At that time, the big sedans would have been the W140 S Class (also the two door CL420-Cl600). These cars were behemoths. The W210 E55 was just out in 1998 (previously E36).

If it was last year, there are many more models: CLS, S, E all are large 4 door cars that all have pretty good looks in black.

st! that was a typo, meant to say YEARS ago. Sorry....

I think the year was 97 or 98 when I saw it, it was the Pistonheads show last weekend where I saw a big black Merc that reminded me of it, I think that was a 500SL or something, but I don't think it was the same model. But as I said my memory is rubbish and I could be wrong!

Edited by Emeye on Thursday 15th January 13:19

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Here's some pics from the Geneva motor shows from 1997 and 1998. Do you recognised the car from any of these pics (the stands used at different shows will be similar).

The black car in the pics is an SL.

The pics are taken from this great page:

http://www.germancarzone.com/older-mbs-classics/29...

1997


1998

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Friday 16th January 12:30

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Friday 16th January 12:31

[Emeye]

Cheers for the pics, don't recognise it from there, but I should add that IIRC it had the old style Merc grill.

Thanks.

[dougc]

I'd vote for the W140 CL600 Coupe.

Like this

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/849570.htm

edit for linky...

Edited by dougc on Friday 16th January 14:15

[Pentoman]

dougc said:

I'd vote for the W140 CL600 Coupe.

Like this

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/849570.htm

edit for linky...

Edited by dougc on Friday 16th January 14:15

Either that or if a saloon (as stated likely) then W140 S class.
Initial thought is W140 is rather plastic, not likely to get his reaction:


http://www.abacus-autos.com/cars/s500-old/s500-old...

BUT there's a massive difference between a base model Merc (even the S class) and one that has had money ploughed into it at the dealer. I found a base W220 S class is budget to sit in and you just feel the horrible plastic, but then recently I've sat in one of the same type but it had airy massive sunroofs, stitched leather dash, not sure what else it had but the whole thing felt absolutely like the same feeling you had back then - "I have to have one of these". It probably had more expensive plusher leather choice, upgraded carpet choice, alcantara headling, lots of things like that which make a massive difference. And cost a packet when new and are only sort-of on the option list.
So I'm guessing it was something like that.

For example they do an S class "Pullman", a sort of limo for VIPs? This photo is on the newer chassis model but they tend to be fitted out like this which is pretty cool http://www.supercars.net/Pics?v=y&s=c&id=1...

Or in the W140 form, on the right:


Oh, finally, AMG custom build absolutely anything you want so could have been a one off special.

[Emeye]

Cheers for all your replies, don't think I'll ever get to the bottom of what it was. Never mind.

[Emeye]

Found this today on another thread about cool estates\;

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MERC...

I'm wondering if it was the saloon version of this that I was sat in at motorshow all those years ago?