Mercedes-Benz 420 SEC: Spotted
The C126-era SEC is picking up in value, but there's still the odd good'n at reasonable money...
They used to say that the technology from racing cars used to filter down into road cars but over the last few years I've come to the conclusion that this is now a load of bollox, as road car technology has leapt ahead without seeming to have borrowed particularly from the ideas introduced in racing, especially the stale world of F1. The connections now seems tenuous, to say the least, as I haven't been aware of any family hatchbacks introduced recently that are only 950mm tall and pack a 900hp punch.
People in the olden days also used to be a bit obsessed by the cars that F1 drivers drove, a curious liking considering that most of them were given free cars anyway, and also that the average F1 driver has about as much interest in road cars (and about as much idea of what makes a good one) as my elderly mother has. For example, I remember whenever Schumacher was asked what he drove you could almost hear the frothing mouths of the assembled hacks hit the floor as he told them he drove his family around in a Fiat Multipla or a Croma.
However, years ago the car that most of the F1 drivers seemed to actually drive was an SEC Merc. Senna, Mansell and Rosberg all had one, as did many of the others. Indeed the three-pointed star seemed to be a staple in the paddocks in the 70s and 80s. Of course I refer to my previous paragraph here, and reiterate that the reason for this was probably because they were given a free one, but don't just discount it for that reason: the SEC was a damn fine car. It came from an era when Mercedes seemed to be capable of making a car properly, and the W126 S-Class, on which this is based (the SEC is the C126, technically), shared with the legendary W124 that denseness in engineering technology that was actually a delight to discover and experience. If people worried about all that complexity and over-engineering within, it was at least all so well made back then that there was little chance of anything actually going wrong.
The SEC is now riding a wave of popularity, and whereas you could have picked one up a short while ago for the price of a loaf of bread prices are now very much on the up. Thus this one, found in our classifieds, which looks well maintained and has quite a bit of history to support it and is up for just £8,995, looks a rare treat. It's fully loaded and has an MOT until May 2019, too.
Of course if it does go wrong it'd cost a fortune, but what you'd get for this slight financial uncertainty is a huge and opulent two-door, four-seater coupe with frameless windows and a light alloy 4.2 V8 fit enough to propel this leviathan to a top speed of 136mph. Indeed what you'll get most of all is waftability. No car does waft like a large Merc, even one as old as this, and you can trace the spirit of the SEC in the mighty CL and even in the present S-Class Coupe, which is a very pleasant thing indeed.
Okay, it's not the full-fat 500 SEC, or even the 560 SEC, but once upon a time this car could have quartered Europe in a day and not raised an eyebrow, and, given the simple elegance of its 1980s' interior and the gleam of its repainted coachwork, it looks like it might even be up for a similar caper now.
SPECIFICATION - MERCEDES-BENZ 420 SEC
Engine: 4,196cc, V8
Transmission: 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 215
Torque (lb ft): 243
MPG: N/K
CO2: N/K
First registered: 1989
Recorded mileage: 170,000
Price new: N/K
Yours for: £8,995
See the original advert here.
Mark Pearson
Back in 1989 my Xr4x4 only mustered(150bhp/172ib/ft), so the Merc is in line with the time I guess. Outright performance wasn't chased back then like it is nowadays though.
There was something special about these, dictators having them in black, I remember seeing a video of a convoy of those with Saddam Hussein in one with bodyguards standing on these sidesteps/ledges carrying rifles driving at like 15 mph
Far too much dosh for the one I'd want now but if I ever had the chance I'd be all over it. I'd drive around just for the sake of it.
Doesnt seem that expensive in these days of crazy prices, would have probably cost more than a 911 back then as well.
Something about that era of Mercs, modern ones seem a bit fussy in comparison, their brand of hair shirt luxury back then was pretty unique, little in the way of chintz or gadgets,the luxury was int he product, not on it.
They are rot boxes and will drain your bank account faster than a vengeful ex-wife.
Ownership makes you lose k like a third-rate pimp, and the laughing stock of your neighbours
Now that’s got rid of the people who might want one, hopefully that leaves me to pick over the remains and get the best for myself!!!
What wouldn’t I give to own a mint low-miles one?
Preferably, and for bragging rights only, a 560 but a 500 might just do I guess!
Imagine one of these and a mint late-reg Classic Range Rover In suitably dark hues in your garage, and tell me that you wouldn’t look like you oozed class if you pulled up at a smart hotel in either?
k 
Gently run in 500 SEC anyone? Looks like it's done 1/10th of the miles (kilometers...).
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
But I had to laugh at the 215bhp from a 4.2 litre V8!
Back in the early 90s I had a 1980 280e that had 185bhp - mind you one of the guys in our 10-pin bowling team had a 560SEC! The only thing he managed to keep from his divorce apparently!
I loved it, even if it was white with a body-kit!
But the 80s was the decade that time forgot!Gently run in 500 SEC anyone? Looks like it's done 1/10th of the miles (kilometers...).
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
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