For some odd reason, I have a fascination with old limousines. It’s a combination of being a product of the 80s and 90s when such vehicles were inherently cool and always getting a kick out of some random luxury sedan stretched to ridiculous proportions. This 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL is both of those things, since here in the USA, most of our limos were based on Lincoln Town Cars and the funky European conversions usually stayed in their home country. The seller of this stretched W126, listed here on Facebook Marketplace, claims it has under 50,000 miles, but those have been hard miles. The asking price is $3,500.
Now, there was certainly a time when almost any car or truck was like catnip for some limo conversion company, and if you flashed enough cash at them, they would chop the thing up and re-assemble it to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship (sarcasm detected.) On occasion, I’ll see a Hummer H2 limo, or a Cadillac Escalade stretch, so these conversions still happen – but it does seem like the use of limos is almost entirely focused on proms and weddings. The corporate executive riding through Midtown in a car like this Mercedes isn’t as frequent of a sighting as it once was, especially with services like Uber Black taking hold. However, you have to admit – having a TV and a bar, along with an L-shaped bench seat, is still pretty cool.
But in the case of our subject car, what happened? The W126, like many Mercedes products from this era, is known for being constructed of highly durable materials, with leather seats that could seemingly withstand untold amounts of abuse. It’s clear that this Mercedes limousine has been left outside for decades, as relentless sun exposure seems like the only obvious source of this much damage. I’m actually shocked to see in the photo above that the headliner is still intact, especially since that’s an interior feature installed by whatever aftermarket company performed the conversion. At a minimum, you’re looking at total replacement of the front seats and wood trim, but the good news is there are still plenty of W126s showing up at California wrecking yards.
While I doubt that the paint can be saved, I suspect that’s the least of your concerns on the outside. The landau-style roof has obviously succumbed to the elements, and it looks like a back window has either dropped in the door due to a failed regulator or has been smashed out. In addition, you can see visible rust right where the edge of the roof lining meets the body, a common fault associated with these goofy roof coverings intended to mimic a convertible-style top. That alone will make this a difficult project to justify restoring, but knowing that the mighty M117 V8 under the hood would likely come back to life with ease, a die-hard Mercedes enthusiast may be willing to take a chance on its revival.
Must have been nice in its day. I can not get the FB link to work.
I remember these when they were on the road and looked nice ( guess I’m old) this one just needs to be crushed and recycled into a Hyundai or Tesla
Shouldn’t it be a 500SELLLLL?
m.b seats were never good, prone to cracking as leather dryed out you see many with sheepskin covers
MB Tex seats are very durable, the vinyl ones.
That is one long hunk of scrap metal. I cant imagine anyone paying anything over a few hundred bucks for parts. Its not worth restoring. Imagine the number of animals that have lived in that mini condo!
What a piece.
Cost more to haul it away than it’s worth.
Amazing to still have its hood ornament. I had a similar car in the 80s and had to replace the hood ornament regularly. Gawd knows why the kids liked to snap them off, but they definitely did.
I remember back in the 60’s, when hippies were stealing Edsel hood ornaments to wear as necklaces.
I worked on a ranch in N.CA in the early 70’s. I had a friend who used to imitate Carl, a BIG old man (well in his late 40’s) who’s favorite saying was “It’s the damn hippies, the G D HIPPIES!” Carl, however, was nice at times like when I couldn’t loosen the big nut on the rear wheel of my VW bug. I had been dancing on the breaker bar to no luck. All Carl had to do was put one foot on it and stand up. Came right off.
Conversions like this were NEVER cool. They were about as desirable as taking some burned out Pontiac Fiasco and slapping a homemade Ferrari body on it. Add a Hawaiian shirt and a Ron Jeremy mustache, and you could cruise Sunset Blvd wearing sunglasses at a night… I hear a song coming on.
We’re gonna’ need two crushers for this one!
My question is how does such a stately car is left to deteriorate into this condition? Its heartbreaking.
First there were factory limos. When they stopped the niche was filled by outside conversion companies make stretch limos.
Vegas still has lots of them. Many Chrysler 300s and a few Cadillacs but most are Lincoln, Cadillac and Hummer SUVs stretched to ridiculous lengths.
But they are starting to fall out of favor. Who needs a limo when a regular GMC Denali or a Ford Excursion are out there at 20 feet long straight from the factory.
Run, run away fast from this junk pile as far as possible! Scrap iron! Cost more to have it hauled away than it is worth….
Give ’em $250 for the front clip, engine & transmission.
I’m also sorta fascinated with limos, but never enough to own one, except maybe a ’67 Fleetwood.
@Bob Washburne
That would probably be a factory limousine. What about a ’67 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 that attracts you? Im just curious.
A buddy in high school worked at DeSimone Cadillac and he’d pick up trade-in Fleetwoods for a song. Had a ’68 as a DD. Just gorgeous cars, well-proportioned, and upholstered like a living room.
I had a ’67 DeVille convertible – first of many ragtops. Love those 67s and 68s.
The restoration bill would be longer than the car itself!
And good luck getting commercial insurance to use it for its intended purpose.
These super-stretch limos got some bad press here on Long Island (NY) when one, filled with young adults got t-boned making a u turn in the wine region. I don’t remember the details but the limo split in half and there were many deaths and injuries. The structural integrity of the limo was blamed for the horrific carnage.
It was a turning point for many who had plans to hire Limos for their proms/ weddings etc.
@MarkO
I remember reading a story where a bride and groom were on their way to the reception when their stretch limo got into an accident. Driver, bride and groom all were deceased. Such a tragedy.
Sink it off the Florida coast to make an artificial reef.
What is it that I heard about the SS United States NOT being sunk for a reef in Florida now, but possibly being towed to New York? I’m in Philadelphia where it floated quietly for years. Very strange, but yes, sink the limo in its place?
No “corporate executive” ever rode in this, or in any stretch limo. They ride in town cars. These are for prom and weddings.
AND Ric Flair….WOOOOOO!