WHAT IS IT?
Kneel before what just might be peak S-Class: A 1991, W126 generation 560 SEL, in Euro trim. Car and Driver had this to say about the 238 hp U.S. version of the 5.5-liter V8-powered flagship Merc: “The minute you’re seated in the big, comfortable seat, the car surrounds you with an aura of all-enveloping mass, a kind of battering-ram-solid sense of security. The combination of security, safety, and speed is, of course, a Mercedes hallmark, and it’s a mighty comforting piece of baggage to have along.” This battering-ram makes the full 279 horsepower and was built in the days when Mercedes quality was beyond question. There have certainly been faster, more luxurious and more powerful S-Class Benzes built both before and after this one, but the W126 might just be the best.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
S-Class Benzes were often bought new by older people who used them sparingly. Still, their reliability, solidity and ability to eat up freeway miles means that most of these cars have accumulated at least six-figures on the odometer by this point. This one has just under 40,000 kilometers on it, which translates to around 25,000 miles. To borrow a tired cliché that actually happens to be true in this case, this car is barely broken in. The leather and the carpeting show as new, as does the engine compartment. For whatever reason, European dealers don’t often take undercarriage shots, but given the state of everything else, we’d wager that it’s as stunning as the rest of the car. At around $62,000, the price is fairly stiff, but for a nearly-new example of arguably the best S-Class Benz ever, it actually makes some sense.
To borrow a tired cliché that actually happens to be true in this case, this car is barely broken in.
This is a nice big Merc, built at a time when M-B build-quality was pretty close to peerless, but there’s just something about this car that isn’t as crisp as it could be, almost like it wasn’t always garaged. There’s a bit of patina to the seats, and the bumpers and side cladding look a little faded. Nice car, but not the best.