1992 Mercedes-Benz 500 Series

*1992 Mercedes Benz 500E* The concept of a factory built hot rod sedan wasn't invented by Mercedes Benz but when they unveiled the 300SEL 6.3 in 1968, they took the idea to a whole new level. Taking the biggest V8 engine from their 600 limousine and putting it into their mid-size sedan resulted in a car that could beat a contemporary Porsche 911 in a drag race while carrying 5 people in great comfort. With Mercedes' W124 E Class, they had another great opportunity to replicate this formula and have a car that could easily compete with BMW's new high performance M5. To start the project, Mercedes took the powerful and refined dual overhead cam 5.0-liter V8 out of their 500SL and stuck it into a 300E sedan. They then began work upgrading all of the other components to make the car handle and stop as well as it accelerated. The brakes were also taken from the 500SL and the wheels were pushed further out for better handling which resulted in the car's now famous flared wheel arches. All of these modifications gave Mercedes a proper performance sedan, 0-60 was clocked at 5.5 seconds and the top speed was electronically limited to 155mph which it could achieve with ease. But when it came to putting the car into production, Mercedes encountered a serious issue. The wider track and flared fenders meant that the car was ultimately too wide to fit down the assembly line at any of their factories. To solve this, Mercedes contracted out to their neighbors in Stuttgart, Porsche, to help assemble the 500Es by hand in their factory. For this partnership, Mercedes would send the parts to Porsche, who would assemble the chassis, send it back to Mercedes for paint, when it would then go back to Porsche to put in the engine and complete the final assembly. In total, each car took 18 days to make and meant that the 500E was always guaranteed to be a limited production vehicle. With an MSRP of over $81,000 when new, just over 1,500 500Es came to the United States and finding one in good condition has become remarkably difficult. This 1992 500E was built in the model's second year of production and has been well cared for its whole life. Sold new at Barrier Mercedes Benz on July 31st 1992, this 500E was specified in a beautiful, rare shade of Smoke Silver over Beige leather interior. All 500Es came from the factory almost fully loaded but this car features one of the two options, a 6-CD changer, which is controlled through the original Becker Gran Prix head unit. Although the car remains almost completely stock, one notable modification is the set of 18" Fifteen52 Tarmac wheels which gives the owner many more choices in performance tires while still looking period correct. The car has remained in the greater Seattle area since new and has been comprehensively maintained throughout the last 30 years. Most recently, the car had a comprehensive list of work completed which included a transmission service with new reverse clutch packs, distributor caps, drive shaft bushing and a new battery. The Smoke Silver paint shows fantastically and the beige Recaro sport interior looks like it's nearly new. Thanks to years of careful ownership, this car is ready to be driven anywhere in astounding comfort and at a rapid pace. 30 years on, there may be faster cars than the 500E but these cars represent a high watermark in performance sedans, their unparalleled build quality paired with an engaging driving experience check all the boxes for a car that will continue to be appreciated for decades to come. *Additional Information* * Factory Books and Manuals * Service Stamps * Service Records *Standard Features* * 5.0-Liter DOHC V8 * 322 Horsepower * 354 Lb-Ft of Torque * 4-Speed Automatic Transmission * Traction Control * Sliding/Tilting Sunroof * Fog Lamps * Headlight Washers * 4-Piston Disc Brakes * Four-Place Leather Sport Seating * 10-Way Power Front Seats * Heated Front Seats * Power Windows * Cruise Control * Front and Rear Folding Armrests * Anti-Theft System * Wood Interior Trim For more information on this unique 1992 Mercedes Benz 500E or any of our 40+ Porsches always in stock, contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales consultants or feel free to stop by our 5-acre Bellevue, WA Park Place Ltd campus - Home to the West Coast's Most Diverse Inventory of Luxury, Exotic, Collectible and Special Interest Automobiles with 150+ Always On Site. Nobody has what we have!

Condition

Good

Year

1992

Engine Description

8 Cylinder Engine

Engine Cylinders

8