Mercedes-Benz 300 CE (C124) | Spotted
Bruno Sacco has passed away; time to remember one of his best-loved designs
It was with great sadness that we learnt of Bruno Sacco’s passing over the weekend. Having worked for Mercedes for more than four decades from 1958-1999, he was responsible for some of the three-pointed star’s most iconic designs. To this day, people revere the Sacco designs; these weren’t supercars or sports cars, either, instead pitch perfect Benz saloons. Sacco was famously quoted as saying “A Mercedes-Benz must always look like a Mercedes-Benz”, and for many his designs stand proud as some of Merc’s finest.
The list of legendary Sacco Mercedes is incredible. Three generations of S-Class can be attributed to him (W126, W140, W220), of which the earliest was said to be his very favourite car designed for Mercedes. The W201 190E was another, plus the R129 SL - a pair of fantastic Benzes that remain dearly loved to this day. There were some projects he was perhaps less well known for, too, including design management for the C111 and C111-II concepts, plus the A-Class, ML-Class and V-Class. Sacco left an indelible mark on Mercedes, and on the entire car design industry.
While one car could never encapsulate his entire talent and achievements, the 124 generation of Mercedes feels like a very appropriate car to demonstrate Sacco’s skill. More than just a Mercedes-Benz, it was the Mercedes-Benz to a lot of people for a long time. It distilled a lot of what was loved about the larger W126 into a slightly more compact, more modern package, one that to this day many look to as the standard bearer for Mercedes quality, design and engineering.
The alliance of Sacco design and meticulous Mercedes build quality at the time only aided the ‘124’s reputation - and meant plenty survive. In the PH classifieds now there are saloons, coupes, cabrios and wagons, ranging from four-cylinder 230s all the way to monstrous, Porsche-built E500s. While not as cheap as they once were, the allure of one of these cars remains very strong. This 300CE looks a great example. As discovered during a Hero drive of a cabrio in the summer, the 3.0-litre straight six really is the perfect complement to the way a ‘124 drives, torquey enough for easygoing progress but also powerful and exciting as well. Even though this is the 12-valve rather than the 24, it's going to make a fine travel companion. This 1990 two-door has covered fewer than 60,000 miles, moreover, so will be fit for many more adventures yet.
Having been registered 34 years ago this month, this has been in the same family since 1991. The ad says it’s been garage stored, which means it’s been preserved in glorious fashion, and the originality is really something: check out the stereo and the supplying dealer sticker. While the ‘124 is known for lasting well, this really looks a remarkable survivor.
£15k is being asked, reflecting the condition and the mileage surely. There are examples with the same engine for a bit less, but the days of cheap, cheerful and actually good ‘124s are probably behind us now. They’re simply too significant to be worth nothing. And while we’d be wary about suggesting any further appreciation is coming, a Sacco stunner this good is always going to be a hugely desirable Mercedes. £15,000 for that privilege doesn’t seem bad at all.
SPECIFICATION | MERCEDES-BENZ 300-CE (C124)
Engine: 2,960cc, straight six
Transmission: 4-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 190@5,700rpm
Torque (lb ft): 192@4,400rpm
0-62mph: c. 8 secs
Top speed: c.140mph
MPG: c. 28
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1990
Recorded mileage: 56,059
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £14,995
There are still quite a few in London but in the 90's and 00's they were just everywhere - plus all his other iconic designs; the 190, the SEC, the S Class, the SL of the time etc etc. Elegant, restrained and classy they looked so right in a nicely tended London street.
I'd happily have any one of them but the CE and the SEC top the list for me.
Regret not buying a lovely metallic blue with cream/light grey* leather which IMO is the best combo.
- Can't remember which it was now!
Looks a nice example but couldn't drop 15 grand on one, saw one go through the CCA Tatton auction and was struggling to get any bids, think it went for under two grand, wasn't as nice as this but was nice enough. Would want the later engine, and 15 grand is more convertible W124 type money which tend to go for a quite a bit more.
A genius of his time who knew not to over complicate design if you want it to be contemporary and long lasting at the same time.
The 126 was evolutionary but the first baby Benz 190 was revolutionary for the company followed by the 124 seen here and the world of car design rushed to follow this aerodynamic sharp look especially when you look at the horrors the US industry was pushing out in the 80s.
I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at an Autocar Awards luncheon and he was fascinating.
I had always been a fan of Mercedes from my childhood when Bobby, JR and Sue Ellen drove an SL (both 107 and 129 at the end), W126 S Class and SEC up the driveway at Southfork.
The launch of the R129 in 1989 saw it way ahead of anything on the road with its pop up roll bar and made the rivals from Aston and Jaguar look ancient. It took Jaguar 17 years to catch up with the 2006 XK.
I still love my R129 SL so thank you Bruno.
Have driven both and I didn't think the W124 was night and day better, I do think there is a bit of groupthink and emperors clothes going on sometimes with W124's. Yes they were very well built, but the C209 we had seemed fine to me at 120k, the CLS I had also seemed very well built but are also largely worthless these days.
I really dont think the reality is as polar as some will say it is, I know the W210 tended to disintegrate before ones eyes in a lot of cases but the cars that came after seemed pretty decent.
Need to also remember that the youngest W124 is 30 years old now, that's probably stretching the legendary robustness.
Think what I am saying is dont disregard the rest of Mercedes back catalog and fixate to heavily on W124, fantastic though they are, some of the other models are rather good as well, even if they are firmly more in banger, than classic territory at the moment.
Would make an interesting back to back comparison.
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