1988 Mercedes-Benz W126 560SEC

A fixed roof, and a few feet longer than our usual stock, but when a classic Mercedes-Benz coupe offered in the condition this 560 SEC is offered to us, then we’re not going to refuse. Delivered in 1988, the 560 SEC was the flagship model in the C126 model range, it essentially a coupe version of the W126 S-Class saloon, a car that’s rightly regarded as the quintessential Mercedes-Benz luxury saloon.

This car has been enthusiast owned for a number of years, having undergone plenty of restoration work in that time to make sure it presents as perfectly as it is here. So good, in fact, that we have a former Concours winning vehicle on our hands here. Finished in Astral Silver with a black leather interior, as the 560 SEC model it’s powered by a 5.6-litre V8 engine with 300hp. Quick back in the 1980s, this remains a brisk, capable and comfortable way to get around, with the bonus of generous rear seats making this car the most practical of classic coupes.

A car that has had plenty of care and attention focussed on it, with its most recent owner having undertaken extensive work to take an already good example and return it to excellent overall condition. That included a comprehensive strip of the bodywork with rust inhibitor injected into cavities and panels repaired and resprayed as necessary. Mechanically it’s also been maintained meticulously, which means it drives as well as it looks, which is to say beautifully, as, indeed, such a big ‘Benz coupe like this should.

It’s useful that the boot’s sizeable on the 560 SEC, as this car’s life is extensively documented with a number of folders outlining its regular servicing, restorative work and more. What’s more, there are a number of USB memory sticks with countless images demonstrating the extensive work undertaken to the body, its subsequent respray and rebuilding. There are also original brochures, correspondence between owners, club and enthusiast magazines, and the sort of meticulous ownership records that underline a very dedicated owner who’s spent a lot of time and money to ensure that their 560 SEC isn’t just good, but the very best it can be. Underlined by the fact it scored a win in the Mercedes Owners Club 2022 Concours at the Gaydon Motor Museum, and a subsequent invitation to the Masterclass competition the following year. Note – the odometer has been changed due to a fault, with details of this listed in the history documentation.

Longer, less draughty and more practical than our usual offerings here at the SLSHOP, but this is a superb opportunity to buy one of legendary Mercedes-Benz designer Bruno Sacco’s favourite cars. The 560 SEC is rightly lauded as hailing from peak Mercedes-Benz, it a consummate, comfortable and very capable, and in 560 SEC form a very quick means of getting about. This car’s been used, and enjoyed by its previous owners, but benefits hugely from dedicated enthusiastic ownership in recent years, with a not insignificant amount of time, money and effort – with paperwork and more to back all that up – to have it present in the fantastic condition you see it here.