Classic pearls of the future - Mercedes Benz C 36
06/05/2014
The Mercedes Benz C 36 was only built for a short time, and there was no official estate version of it. Yet it was probably the best-looking version of the 202 series.
From 1993 to 1997, only 5200 units left the factory. It was astronomically expensive by the standards of the time, with a price of DM 95,450 on the price list when it was launched, and most examples went into customer hands for well into six figures once the buyer had opted for leather, sunroof, audio system and other accessories from the extensive list of surcharges. The square exhaust tips, which distinguished the C 36 from C 280 models upgraded only with AMG body parts and rims, were available at no extra charge.
And what did you get for all that money? A really good C-Class that did not neglect comfort. Of course, the fastest C-Class of its time was not a veritable sports car, as the kerb weight of 1560 kg was enough of a reason not to. But with 280 hp and 385 Nm of torque, there was plenty to do and the C 36 still had the smooth-running in-line six-cylinder engine (M 104) with four valves per cylinder.
When I was given a C 36 to test drive for a weekend, I was really impressed by how little effort it took to cover long distances in a Mercedes. Despite the lowered chassis, the level of comfort was still considerable and the car felt very easy to handle. If I had had the necessary change, I would probably have bought one back then.
The C 36 was then replaced by the C 43, which unleashed 306 hp on the rear axle with its V8 and clearly attracted attention acoustically. It was also available as a station wagon, but it was significantly more expensive than its predecessor.
The first C 36s have already reached youngtimer age and sooner or later they will be parked side by side with the 190E 2.3-16 in collectors' garages. Who knows, maybe even in the color red, which was probably only rarely delivered in combination with the C 36 ...
