1991 | Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC

The Mercedes-Benz W126 560 SEC

The large coupé is considered a particularly beautiful Sacco Mercedes. Whether you prefer the first or second series, this car is an expression of the highest design and engineering skills. This is its story.Bruno Sacco worked for Daimler for more than 40 years. For about half of that time, he was head of the design department, which until 1987 was still called "Fachbereich Stilistik." To say that he had a formative influence on the appearance of the Mercedes-Benz brand would be a massive understatement. After all, he worked on the Pagoda as well as on the experimental vehicles of the C 111 series, was responsible for the then "small" Mercedes 190 (W 201), launched the first A-Class and led the E-Class into the four-eye era (W 210). During his era at Daimler, the man from Udine oversaw the design of 39 Mercedes production models. Asked about Sacco's most elegant design, however, many - if not most - Mercedes fans are likely to think of a luxury-class coupé. When it comes to perfect proportions, the perfect harmony between front, center and rear, the ideal mix of design accents and lack of frills, only the two-door version of the S-Class 126 series can be considered the Italian's most beautiful car.The now 87-year-old from Udine also feels that this car is one of his most beautiful. While the W 126 sedan, the first Mercedes model for which he was responsible as head of styling, was the duty, the coupé with its missing B-pillar was Sacco's freestyle. In terms of technology and prestige, the SEC was the ultimate in the not-yet-so-far-flung Mercedes range when it debuted at the IAA in the fall of 1981. This is made clear by the choice of engines made by the Executive Board for the large coupé: the six-cylinder from the 280 W 126 did not make it into the coupé's nose, nor did the 300 turbodiesel offered in the USA. Only two eight-cylinder gasoline engines were available: the 380 M 116 with 204 hp and the 500 M 117 with 231 hp and a maximum of 405 Newton meters. In its day, this made the 500 SEC king of the left lane. The zero-to-hundred time of 8.1 seconds also seems rather sluggish from today's perspective. But even by today's standards, one has to say after a drive in the classic: the 4,973-cubic-centimeter V8 with Bosch K-Jetronic has enough power, and the power of the displacement leads to a pulling power that is hardly inferior to that of a current, similarly powerful turbocharged engine. Particularly after the kickdown of the four-speed automatic, the car moves forward smoothly to a speed that still legitimizes the 500 SEC for the left lane. Apparently, some racing drivers saw it that way back then, too: Nigel Mansell picked up his 500 SEC at the factory in 1982, and Ayrton Senna also drove an eight-cylinder coupe from Mercedes. The technical advances brought about by the big Mopf are undisputed. The body was now better protected against rust, the brake system was enlarged, the chassis was even more comfortable and the interior was modernized: For example, the instrumentation and the control units on the roof and behind the automatic gear selector were new. But what was decisive was what changed under the long engine hood. The 380 SEC was replaced as the entry-level variant by the upgraded 420, which initially produced 218 hp and, following a new model update in 1987, even 231 hp (cat versions 204 and 224 hp, respectively). The 500, now equipped with electronic ignition and electronic-mechanical Bosch KE-Jetronic injection systems, was also upgraded to 245 or 265 hp (223 or 252 hp with catalytic converter). But the M 117 had even more potential. Following an increase in displacement to 5.5 liters, the V8 produced 242 (with catalytic converter), 272 (without catalytic converter) or 300 hp (higher-compression ECE version) after the model refresh in the 560 SEC, depending on the emission control system. Maximum torque: 390, 430 or 455 Newton meters. Values from the top league of automotive engineering at the time, combined with a running smoothness that was at most topped by the twelve-cylinder engines of later generations.

Below you will find the equipment list of the vehicle offered here:

199 BLUE BLACK METALLIC
261A LEATHER BLACK
261A LEATHER BLACK
261A LEATHER BLACK / ANTHRACITE
291 AIRBAG FOR PASSENGER
300 STORAGE BOX IN FRONT STORAGE TRAY
498 JAPAN FINISH
524 FULL BODY COVER
524 PAINT - PRESERVATION
581 AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
592 WD-GREEN GLASS ALL AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW-VSG
873 HEATED DRIVER SEAT LEFT AND RIGHT