Mercedes-Benz 230CE Auto

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Mercedes launched its W123 range to huge acclaim in 1976. Fabulously well built and with gracefully understated styling, the car was such an instant success that a booming black market sprang up to serve those who wanted to leap-frog the 12-month waiting list.

Most handsome of all were the 230CE and 280CE coupes, based on a shortened W123 saloon platform and with elegant pillarless side windows. The 230CE model was fitted with the fuel-injected 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine which produced around 134bhp and 148lb/ft of torque, sufficient to propel the car to a top speed of 118mph. A real quality car, it proved hugely popular with trendy middle class professionals (think architects and TV producers) and sold steadily until it was finally replaced by the W124 range in 1985.

First registered in May 1980, this smart 230CE looks wonderfully period in cream with a brown half-leather interior. It has covered some 90,400 miles from new in the hands of just three owners and comes with a good history file to show regular maintenance. It even retains the original purchase invoice from 1980 when it cost £11,550 with a specification including power steering, electric sunroof, electric windows, tinted glass and automatic transmission.

In lovely condition both inside and out, it was fitted with a new pair of Mercedes replacement front wings in 2001 and comes with 16 old MOTs back to 1997 charting the gradual accumulation of mileage. Said to run and drive well, it has an MOT until the end of September 2016 and now just needs a cool fourth owner behind the wheel.