1994 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

VIEW OVER 200 PHOTOS ON VANTAGEAUTO.COM!We are pleased to offer one of the most fascinating performance sedans of the 1990s, this 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500, beautifully finished in Silver over Black leather. For the enthusiast who knows what this car is, very little introduction is necessary. For everyone else, the story behind the W124 E500and the unlikely collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Porsche that created itis what makes this such a special automobile. If you're looking for a great looking E500 with low miles/km, this is your chance.In the late 1980s, Mercedes-Benz wanted to create the ultimate high-performance version of its already legendary W124 E-Class. The result was a project that brought together two of Stuttgart's most celebrated manufacturers: Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.Mercedes supplied the basic W124 bodies, while Porsche was heavily involved in the engineering and assembly of the car. The widened E500 body required specialized production methods that didn't fit neatly into Mercedes' normal assembly process, so the cars traveled between Mercedes-Benz and Porsche facilities during production. Much of the final assembly was carried out by Porsche in Zuffenhausen, making the E500 one of the most interesting products ever to emerge from the relationship between these two German marques.And this wasn't simply an E-Class with a larger engine.Under the hood sits Mercedes' formidable 5.0-liter M119 V8, producing approximately 322 horsepower and sending its power to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. In an era when the typical family sedan was considerably less powerful, the E500 was a genuine autobahn missilea sophisticated four-door capable of effortlessly covering enormous distances at very serious speeds.The changes went far beyond horsepower. The E500 received its unmistakable flared front and rear fenders, wider track, revised suspension, larger brakes and numerous chassis changes. The result is a car that looks almost understated at first glance, yet anyone familiar with the W124 immediately recognizes those muscular arches and subtly aggressive stance.This particular example was sold new in Japan and retains its kilometer-denominated instrument cluster, an important detail of its original market specification. Finished in classic Silver over a Black leather interior, it has exactly the restrained, purposeful appearance that suits the E500 so well.Adding considerably more attitude are a set of aftermarket three-piece wheels. They fill the E500's factory widened arches beautifully and give the car a period-correct European tuner aesthetic without taking away from the fundamentally elegant W124 design. The combination of the Silver bodywork, black cabin, pronounced factory fender flares and deep three-piece wheels makes for an exceptionally striking presentation.What makes the E500 so compelling today is how effectively it combines two very different personalities. Driven casually, it possesses all the solidity, refinement and bank-vault build quality that made the W124 one of Mercedes-Benz's greatest automobiles. Put your foot down and the character changes completelythe M119 V8 comes alive and the car reveals why the E500 earned its reputation as one of the great Q-ships of its era.There are faster modern sedans, but very few have a story like this.The 1994 E500 represents a unique moment in German automotive history, when Mercedes-Benz engineering, Porsche expertise, hand-intensive production and a big naturally aspirated V8 came together to create something that neither manufacturer would ever build in quite the same way again.For the Mercedes collector, Porsche enthusiast, or anyone who appreciates the analog German performance cars of the 1990s, the E500 belongs on the short list of cars from this era worth owning.Rare, understated, beautifully engineered and unmistakably specialthis Porsche-built Mercedes remains one of the greatest high-performance sedans of its generation