1981 | Mercedes-Benz 230 CE

Mercedes-Benz 230 CE (C123) – When Engineering Meets Style

There are coupés that try to be sporty. Others that try to be elegant. And then there’s the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 230 CE – a car that simply is both. No show, no flash – just honest, timeless design from an era when Sindelfingen still built cars for a lifetime.

Engineering – The Charm of Reliability
Under that long bonnet beats a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine. With 136 hp it doesn’t shout Nürburgring – it whispers Autobahn. Smooth, composed, sonorous. Turn the key, a quarter turn of the crankshaft, and it’s alive – ticking away like a freshly oiled watch. The automatic gearbox shifts as if a butler in white gloves were doing it for you.

The previous owner spared no expense: over the last four years, anything showing the faintest sign of wear was replaced – suspension, steering, brakes – all new, all excellent. The result? It feels factory-fresh, just with a lot more soul.

Design – BBS Meets Benz
One highlight deserves special mention: the original, homologated BBS sport suspension. Subtly lowered – the perfect late-70s, early-80s stance. Sporty, but never brash. Add to that the original BBS wheels – precision pieces that look like they were machined by a watchmaker – and a rare BBS wooden steering wheel that gives the interior true gentleman appeal.

Substance – More Than Just Metal
In January this year, the car received a full professional respray – with stunning results. The underside? Rust-free, spotless, and finished in body colour. No shortcuts, no patchwork – pure quality.
An appraisal from Engelmann & Schmidt dated October 2022 is included, and since then the car’s condition has only improved. Getting better after already being excellent – that says it all.

Driving Feel – Graceful Power
At 200 km/h on the Autobahn, you realise it can. But it doesn’t have to. This Mercedes doesn’t race – it glides. Through the countryside, window down, with that rare feeling modern cars can’t recreate: serenity, dignity, class.

Conclusion – Built for the Next 40 Years
This 230 CE isn’t a daily driver – it’s a summer indulgence. For days when the sun shines, the roads are empty, and you wonder why you’d ever drive anything else.
You’re not buying just a car – you’re buying a piece of German engineering history. And, incidentally, a coupé with more character than three modern ones combined.