Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Saloon

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Launched in 1995 the W210 Series of E-Class Mercedes were luxury mid-sized models aimed firmly at the upper end of the market.

A wide range of petrol and diesel engines were offered in a variety of sensible sizes but at the top of the tree was the frankly bonkers E55 AMG. Produced from 1998 until 2002, it was powered by a hand-built 354bhp 5.5-litre V8 that could launch it to 60mph in 5.2 seconds (although some road tests recorded just 4.8 seconds) and was still pulling strongly when it hit the 155mph limiter.

“It feels like you could just jump in, drive to the other side of Europe in one go and feel as relaxed as when you started out,” said Evo magazine when testing one with 100k on the clock in 2008. “The 354bhp is deployed to devastating effect – plant your foot and the wagging finger of the ASR system cuts in even if you’re going straight and it’s dry, and it corners in a way that defies both its age and size. The interior looks and feels as though it was designed to last forever with still not a creak or squeak to be heard. It is an easy car to like and one that you could live with for many years. It’s also the type of car that will always give you the warm glow that comes from finding something so accomplished at such a low price.”

Just 12,000 were sold worldwide (the vast majority in left-hand drive) and the E55 has something of a cult following today. Mechanically bulletproof, their only real problem was rust, but fortunately this example has been garaged from new and has barely suffered in that regard, although a new RH front wing was recently fitted when a few bubbles started to appear.

With just one owner from new, it was first registered in August 1998 and has covered only 112,500 miles (a walk in the park for this unstressed giant) with a good service history to show regular maintenance, with 12 stamps in the book, the last just a few miles ago in March of this year, plus various invoices for additional maintenance inbetween. The last service included all new spark plugs, filters and fluids plus a gearbox service.

Supplied with all its original handbooks and with an MOT until 31st July 2015, this pampered one-owner road rocket can still leave most other cars floundering in its wake and looks ridiculously good value at the modest guide price suggested.

AMENDMENT: This car has 10 stamps in the book not 12 as stated in the catalogue.