There are cars you see every day that eventually, you simply gloss over. They’re either mass-produced or too reliable, meaning they never go extinct. It’s like seeing a 1998 Honda Accord that, while it may be really nice, you know another one will pop up before too long. The W126-chassis Mercedes-Benz was one of the company’s more overbuilt models from an era where seemingly everything it built was bullet-proof. Therefore, you still see them on the road, to say nothing of how many come up for sale, which can make them seem downright unexciting. However, when a truly nice one does appear, it’s worth paying attention to, such as this 1991 420SEL listed here on eBay with bids to $7,900 and no reserve.
When new, this stately sedans was Mercedes’ long-wheelbase offering and cream of the crop, outside of perhaps a C126 coupe or a bulletproof limousine. Like most high-dollar vehicles, the second and third owners did as much as humanly possible to drive down values and destroy the reputation of an otherwise fine automobile. Lack of maintenance and perhaps the shock of what a Mercedes-trained technician would charge to keep it in good health led to many of these durable sedans being neglected – neglect they readily accepted due to the over-built nature of the drivetrain. These days, finding one with just the second owner that has clearly been loved is near impossible.
Now, even though Mercedes products from this era are known for having interior materials that are incredibly durable, this is still the interior of a car that has been doted on since new. You can just tell by the way the leather still shines, the wood trim looks like new, and the carpets are thick and stain-free. The seller notes the current owner bought the 420SEL in 1999 and has kept in mint condition ever since, and that there are no discernable flaws in the Palomino interior (one of Mercedes’ best interior color schemes.) My dad had a 1987 model in the early 90s, and his car didn’t look nearly this nice inside. That’s a testament to how both owners of this example have clearly gone to great lengths to protect the cabin materials.
The 4.2L V8 is one of those engines that doesn’t need much more than routine servicing, but there are always some mechanical components in a car like this that are more expensive to replace than on a similar domestic luxury vehicle. The 4.2L V8 pushed out a respectable 201 horsepower and 228 lb.-ft. of torque, channeled through a 4-speed automatic transmission. Mercedes’ transmissions of this era are generally reliable, but needing a replacement at higher mileage isn’t unheard of. With under 90,000 miles, this one has plenty of miles to go before a major rebuild or replacement, and at the current bid price, it’s a bargain.
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