Mercedes-Benz 500SEC Coupe

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Oozing road presence and subdued aggression, the Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class saloon was launched in 1979 as the company's flagship model to replace the outgoing W116 line.

Beautifully styled by Bruno Sacco, the aim was to produce a car that was sleeker and more aerodynamic than the previous model. The application of lighter materials and alloys combined with thorough wind tunnel testing meant the car consumed about 10% less fuel than its predecessor. It was also packed with advanced safety features for the time, such as airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, traction control and ABS brakes.

In 1981 an even more menacing two-door coupe version was launched with an all-alloy 5-litre V8 engine producing 252bhp and 300lb/ft of torque - sufficient to whisk the car 60mph in less than 8 seconds and on to a rock steady 145mph. Rated as one of the best and safest cars in the world, its natural environment was the outside lane of the German autobahn where its immense performance and utter stability at speed won it many devoted fans. Subtly improved over time, it remained in production until 1991 when it was replaced by the much frumpier W140 Series.

First registered in September 1989, this SEC looks particularly good in gleaming Smoke Silver (more like a pale gold) with a Brazilia Brown full leather interior. It has covered only 118,000 miles in its 26 years to date with 11 stamps in the book up until 70,215 miles in 1996, although we are told that it has been regularly maintained since although the book has not been stamped. It has had six owners in total but we are also told that several of these were from the same wealthy family who transferred it from one family member to another.

Supplied with all its original handbooks and due to have a fresh MOT in time for the sale, it is said to drive well and also comes with a period Motorola cell phone, now a collector’s item in its own right. These handsome 1980s SECs were built to an extraordinarily high standard and this well-preserved example no doubt has decades of useful life ahead of it.