These days, finding a collectible car that doesn’t cost an absolute fortune isn’t exactly easy. One life hack you could use, however, if you’re looking for exclusivity that doesn’t break the bank is to find a model offered overseas that is rare but not necessarily a supercar-grade investment. The Avantgarde edition Mercedes-Benz 190E is a model that offers rarity and some additional performance advantages over the standard model while still typically trading hands for under the price of a nicely-preserved Cosworth edition. This Avantgarde 190E listed here on Hagerty Auctions has the added benefit of being a desirable Azzurro Edition which came with some added enhancements.

Now, keep in mind, this was still powered by the base model engine, the dependable but tepid 2.3L inline-four 8V mill. The seller points out, however, that of the three colors offered – Rosso (red exterior), Verde (green exterior), and Azzurro (blue exterior), the latter received a lowered sports suspension and the four-seat Recaro interior from the Cosworth, each with a unique color insert in the leather surfaces. The car shown here looks absolutely wild inside, and you have to be someone who appreciates rarity when delivered solely by the color palette. The current bid price for this unusual 190E is $2,500, so it’s not catching too many bidders’ attention (yet.)

The tricky thing with cars like this is the rarity does not necessarily translate into greater value. Yes, Mercedes produced these cars in small batches, and yes, you see them far less often than the coveted 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth. However, you either have to be a true Mercedes fanatic or someone who loves the zany color scheme to appreciate what’s offered here. The interior was sold in the U.S. not only in the Cosworth but also the Sportline edition, which truthfully, is the “sleeper” model value-wise in the W201 lineup. It, too, was produced in small batches and is a hard car to come by today, but it preserved the subdued appearances Mercedes is known for.

The seller’s car does have an additional performance feature, if you will, which is that of the manual transmission. The 5-speed is a very hard unit to find in any Mercedes from this era that wasn’t a Cosworth, but the W124 and R129 both appear from time to time with three pedals. This Avantgarde edition will certainly catch someone’s eye solely for having a 5-speed, but they’ll have to be OK with the wild interior pattern to press the bid button. What do you think a European-market sedan with special colors should be worth? Thanks to Barn Finds reader PRA4SNW for the tip.