Sherman McCoy Approved: 1987 Mercedes-Benz 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL W126W126
I know what you are going to say. We’ve posted a bunch of 80s/90s Mercs on DT recently, but there is a reason. These were extremely well engineered pieces of metal, built when cars were not overly complicated and there are tons of these old beasts sitting around. Daimler built almost 900k examples of the W126 S-Class from 1979-1991, so parts availability and resources are out there. Best bang for your buck comes from a well preserved driver with some miles on it instead of the low mile show queen or the free wreck. Find this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL W126 offered for $4,700 in Hollywood, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1987 mercedes 560 sel
condition: like new
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 175000
paint color: custom
size: full-size
title status: clean
transmission: automatic
type: sedan
I have the most prettiest 560 SEL Mercedes truly an excellent condition red with a tan interior sunroof runs and drives excellent clean title registered must see please don’t emails calls and texts only thank you
See a better way to drive something from the golden age of the motor car? tips@dailyturismo.com
I was a bit skint about 20 years ago when a neighbor announced he was selling his w126 300SEL – basically the most bulletproof version of this rolling bank vault with an inline 6. He let it go for what seemed like pocket change at the time. Now that I’m flush as opposed to skint I’d still buy one over any Lexus or Infiniti today but have yet to find another in the same condition.
Red is nice though.
Those old wornout Mercedes are one owner (sucker) away from exploding. You’re up.
Ouch. This hurts because it is soooooo true. However, I think that if you are good with tools, have decent mechanical skills, and enjoy wrenching on the weekends, these aren’t as bad a ticking time bomb as a similar vintage Saab or Alfa. But that isn’t much of a bar to clear…
Having owned two W126 300sd autos that I rehabilitated from unloved clunkers into minty krautwagens, I’d be the first to say that they’re easy to troubleshoot – if they’re diesels.
Pray to whatever deity you worship that you don’t need one of these: https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/810060.htm
I have a bad feeling that shining a UV flashlight on the back seat of a Hollywood W126 560SEL would produce a Jackson Pollock-esqe horror show that your eyes would never recover from.
The minty fresh rear seat, pretty ok driver seat, scuzzy arm rest and hidden from sight passenger seat makes me think that someone drove this thing around LA all by themselves until the driver seat wore out and they had the front seat seats upholstery swapped.
I can only imagine what horrors are under that cover.
A picture under the hood and a picture of that MB service book would make or break the sale. Factory trained mechanics keep a tidy engine compartment that is hard to imitate.