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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC - timeless Gentlemen's Express

Name: Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC 1984
Brand: Mercedes-Benz

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Created on October 24, 2018

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Daimler AG

Archiv Daimler AG

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Daimler AG

Archiv Daimler AG

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the ribbed side protection panels and bumpers were only available on the versions up to fall 1984

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Bruno Sacco's ingenious design

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the biggest difference to the saloon was the newly shaped radiator grille with star

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the trunk remained unchanged from the sedan at 505 liters

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - elegant coupé without B-pillar

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - hood and trunk lid made of aluminum

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - ready to go

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Steel wheels with hubcaps were standard on the expensive coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - front view, the car is 183 cm wide (without mirrors)

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - rear view

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - whoever arrived with it was either a Formula 1 driver or otherwise a demanding driver

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - it's green

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the aerodynamic design can be seen in the coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - independent front

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - The joy of driving the Sindelfingen way

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the press at the time spoke of foolproof handling

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - still an attractive appearance today

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - you couldn't travel much more perfectly almost 40 years ago

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - this coupé ran at over 230 km/h at the time

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Cockpit with plastic steering wheel (without leather)

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - no leather, plastic-wrapped steering wheel

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - proven gearshift elements in the Coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Four-speed automatic transmission as standard

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the seatbelt reminder - after switching on the ignition

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the seatbelt remover - ... a plastic arm brings the seat belt to the driver, ...

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - the seatbelt remover - ... so that he can buckle up comfortably

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - beautiful velour upholstery

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Velour upholstery

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - by hand, rear-view mirror adjustment without electrical assistance left

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - easy-to-understand electric seat adjustment as standard

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - electrically retractable side windows

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - V8 engine with a displacement of almost five liters

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - longitudinally mounted V8 engine with powerful air filter

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Chassis badge

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - two hands are needed just to unlock the hood

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Fuse for the hood - both sides

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - for an extra charge - wipers for the headlights

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - big star in the radiator grille

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - aerodynamically optimized recessed door handles

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - Fuel filler cap rear right

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - clearly labeled

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - "500 SEC" lettering and fluted tail lights

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - corrugated rear lights were intended to reduce soiling

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SE (1979) - W126 model series - from the side - Sacco had requested body-colored cladding

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - supplied with steel rims and hubcaps as standard

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Mercedes Benz 500 SEC (1982) - Coupé of the W 126 series

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Mercedes Benz 500 SEC (1982) - Bruno Sacco created one of his masterpieces with the coupé of the W 126 series

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - the new S-Class Coupés 380 SEC and 500 SEC are crowd pullers - IAA 1981

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1982) - luxury coupé on the podium was one of the main attractions

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Mercedes Benz 500 SEC (1981) - Coupé of the W 126 series in the wind tunnel

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Mercedes Benz 500 SEC (1981) - Coupé of the W 126 series

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - on the driveway in Untertürkheim

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - can also be loaded with skis

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Mercedes Benz 500 SEC (1982) - Coupé of the W 126 series in winter

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - on the road in the snow

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - Seat belt remover

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - electric seat adjustment

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - comfortable seats

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - Velour seats were standard equipment

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - comfortable rear access

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - Single rear seats

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - modern appearance

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - always the center of attention

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - Version before the facelift

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - Coupé with aluminum wheels (for an extra charge) and recessed side windows

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - on the road with the lady of the heart

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - model-maintained coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - on a long journey

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1981) - the V8 engine fills the engine compartment well

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1983) - USA version

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1982) - Formula 1 driver Nigel Mansell taking over his 500 SEC

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1982) - Nigel Mansell sits proudly on the hood of his 500 SEC

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1985) - Formula 1 racing driver Andrea de Cesaris with his 500 SEC

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1984) - racing driver Ayrton Senna with his 500 SEC

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC (1982) - at the 1982 Geneva Motor Show - by tuner Duchatelet Carat in white leather

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Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC (1985) - model-maintained coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC (1986) - USA version of the 5.6-liter model

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Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC (1985) - the most powerful variant

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Mercedes-Benz 420 SEC (1985) - 4.2-liter version after the facelift

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Summary

Eight out of 26 Grand Prix drivers in the 1983 Formula 1 season drove the same car privately, a Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC. With automatic transmission and five-liter V8 engine. And not only the racing drivers were enthusiastic about the elegant coupé, the press and customers also recognized the qualities of the four-seater top-class coupé. And even today, almost 40 years later, the 500 SEC is far more than just an old car. This driving report tells the story of the W126 coupé series and shows it in almost 100 illustrations, supplemented by the sales brochure and a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

Presented two years after the saloon
Technically on proven paths
Seatbelt remover and steel wheels
Century design
Top product
Balanced
Evolution en masse
Gentlemen's Express
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Nigel Mansell had one, as did Keke Rosberg, Riccardo Patrese, John Watson, Ayrton Senna and Patrick Tambay. For Niki Lauda, the Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC was even the best car ever. If a third of the 26 Grand Prix drivers in the 1983 Formula 1 season drove the same private car, then there must have been something to be said for this Mercedes - after all, F1 racing drivers are considered to be above-average drivers. The coupé of the W126 series celebrated its debut at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1981. In contrast to its predecessor, the 280-500 SLC, the 380 SEC and 500 SEC were no longer related to the R107 convertible line, but were developed on the basis of the S-Class W126 presented in 1979.

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