Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.0 Automatic

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The decision to introduce a completely new car at the bottom end of their range was not taken lightly in the board room at Mercedes-Benz. Finally unveiled in 1982, the new 190 was the most affordable model in the marque's history.

Over £600 million was spent researching and developing the new car, with Mercedes-Benz acutely aware that a failure of such an entry level model could easily bring down the rest of the range and with it, the entire company’s reputation. They needn't have worried!

The 190 was available with airbags, ABS brakes, seatbelt tensioners and other advanced safety features and is now regarded as one of the best Mercedes-Benz cars ever made. It was finally replaced by the much less impressive C-Class in 1993 (which ironically did have a negative effect on their hard-won reputation for engineering excellence).

This well presented example was originally supplied in 1991 through Continental Cars of Cardiff to a Mr Reece. He took it to them for regular servicing, trading it in for a new model in 1994. Mrs Brookes then became the proud owner, again using Continental Cars for service before it passed into the hands of the current keeper in 1997.

Subsequently maintained by the Sinclair Group, Mercedes-Benz main dealers for Newport and Cardiff, the mileage had risen to 120,000 miles by 2007, just 3,000 more having been added when it was presented for its MOT last November since when it has hardly turned a wheel. The accompanying service book shows a total of 12 stamps.

Described by the vendor as a particularly fine example with the exception of a faulty fuel sender (the gauge being stuck on ¼ full), he adds that the car drove beautifully on its recent 80 mile journey to Brightwells.