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The MercedesBenz W124 (produced from 1984 to 1997) is widely regarded as a collectible modern classic, prized for its legendary build quality, longterm reliability and timeless Bruno Sacco design.
This stunning example, built in 1986, is a rare early prefacelift model. These earlier cars are favoured by W124 enthusiasts for remaining truer to the original design and for being more resistant to corrosion than later facelift models, introduced from 1992 onwards. This is largely due to the use of thickergauge steel and traditional solventbased paints. In addition, unlike later facelift cars, early W124s were not fitted with biodegradable wiring looms, which are known to degrade over time and require costly replacement.
Now 40 years old, its 1 previous owner bought it from new and kept it over 38 years. With only 44.7k recorded miles from new backed up by MOT and service records, its averaged an incredibly low 1,110 miles a year. Importantly, rather than having had a significant period off the road, which can lead to significant re-commissioning requirements, MOT records from 2006 to date, show it has been used every year averaging around 300 miles.
Built in October 1986 the car will be eligible for Historic Registration from 1st April 2027 and as such will then MOT, Road Tax and ULEZ exempt. It is however on sale with a currently valid MOT.
Presented in incredible original condition, the car has never been restored and still wears its factory Signal Red paint.
The Cream Beige interior and matching carpets, complete with original OEM overmats, contrast beautifully with the exterior and remain in nearnew condition.
From the factory, the car was additionally optioned with electric windows all round, cruise control, a folding front armrest, tinted glass and electric sliding roof.
Power comes from the smooth and dependable 2.6litre fuelinjected M103 straightsix engine, paired with a fourspeed switchable automatic transmission perfectly suited to the refined, relaxed character of this 1980s executive saloon.
Mechanically, the car has benefitted from meticulous maintenance throughout its life, with a service book recording ten stamps up to 41k miles, supported by later service invoices at 44.3k miles and a most recent service at 44.6k miles in 2025.
Underneath, this is quite simply one of the cleanest W124s we have encountered, free from the corrosion or repair patches, typically seen on examples of this age that have covered higher mileages on UK roads. The original factory corrosion protection remains intact and has been sympathetically overcoated with a clear Dinitrol underbody wax as part of the presales preparation, providing an additional layer of longterm protection.
The car will be supplied with a classiccarspecific warranty from Autoguard upon sale.
Prefacelift W124s are rare in their own right, with sixcylinder examples rarer still. Finding a genuine UK registered, lowownership, lowmileage car in such exceptional and original condition, is about as hard as it comes . As such, this 260E represents a superb opportunity for the W124 enthusiast, the discerning collector seeking to add a standout example to a collection, or even the firsttime classic buyer seeking a handsome beautifully preserved, usable modern classic (soon to be MOT, Road Tax and ULEZ exempt), with legendary Mercedes Benz build quality.
Bruno Sacco’s W124 design epitomises that certain kind of elegance that doesn’t shout, it simply arrives, perfectly tailored and impossibly refined.
As an early pre-Facelift model, it retains this purer design language latterly altered by bodywork revisions to both the 1989 and 1993 Facelift models.
The body work finished in its factory Signal Red (Paint code 568U), presents in superb original condition despite having not been restored.
As to be expected from Mercedes Benz’s of this era, panel gaps are excellent, and there is no evidence of corrosion on the bodywork.
As a pre-Facelift example, it was built of thicker steel and painted with a solvent rather than water based paint, as used on the later Facelift W124 models, all of which added to higher levels of corrosion resistance for the early cars.
Age related blemishes are minimal, with a just the odd small stone chip, a small amount of scuffing to the bottom of driver’s side rear bumper and a small amount of delamination on the bumper paint in and around the same area. All chrome is in excellent condition, as are all light clusters.
As part of our pre-sales preparation, the car bodywork was treated to a full detail and high end wax finish, by our professional detailing partner.
The interior is an inviting place to be albeit in that functional way, so typical of Mercedes Benz cars for this era. The Cream Beige (code 075A) cloth seats, are well sprung, multi adjustable and exceptionally comfortable in a way modern “sport seats” can’t get close to. The condition of the seats both front and back are excellent with little no evidence of either colour fade or wear and bely the fact that this is a 40 year old car.
The original carpets and OEM over mats are also in excellent condition, as are the door cards. The car was specified with a number of options from the factory which include:
In addition, both door mirrors adjust electrically.
The switchgear has that solid and well-engineered feel to it, lacking in so many modern cars. Switches, instruments and dials are in perfect working order as is the heater, which has individual temperature controls for driver and passenger comfort. The car is fitted with its original Blaupunkt Vancouver stereo radio cassette player, paired with the original Blaupunkt Blue Magic speakers factory fitted into the rear window shelf. The car comes with its original and complete first aid kit mounted in a box also built into the rear window shelf. Finally, the car comes with a full size spare wheel and tyre, its original jack and original tool kit.
As evidenced by a service history with 10 service stamps, and invoices for 2 additional services, in 2024 and 2025, the car has been fastidiously maintained. The 2.6 straight six engine is smooth and torquey. As expected for a car this well maintained, it runs and drives superbly.
The 4 speed switchable auto (between standard and economy), is smooth changing with kick-down engaging promptly, as it should.
Suspension componentry front and back is free of any corrosion and provides for an exceptional ride. It features a front MacPherson strut design and a sophisticated rear multi-link axle, designed for comfort and stability.
There is also something liberating about a chassis with almost no dynamic intent beyond comfort and competence. The W124’s preferred role is that of laid-back cruiser, laying a velvet cloak over choppy road surfaces and with refinement that’s still impressive by today’s standards.
As to be expected with a car with such low mileage, the car still drives with the tightness of steering, suspension feel and response of the controls, lost to high mileage cars.
The car sits on its original 15” x 6.5” steel wheels with attractive OEM hub cabs. All driven wheels are fitted with matching Toyo Proxies 195 x 65 R15s, (the correct OEM specification) and newly fitted in 2024.
The brakes which are servo assisted discs all round (ventilated at the front) are powerful and operate as they should.
This example has the cleanest underside for a UK registered W124 we have ever come across. It is almost unbelievable that the car is now 40 years old.
The original underseal is in excellent order and the suspension, brakes and all other componentry susceptible to corrosion are also remarkably preserved (no doubt due to the cars conservative use over the years). Notwithstanding, as part of the car’s pre-sales preparation, all mechanical componentry under the car, its floor pans and inner wheel arches were all meticulously coated with a clear wax from Dinitrol, specifically designed for such uses. This provides a further layer of protection that has exceptional anti-corrosion resistance and is also jetwash proof.
This all adds up to a car that has outstanding protection from corrosion, typically unavoidable for cars driven on UK roads all year round.
The history file contains the current V5C. This evidences just 1 previous owner who purchased the car new from M Thomas (Continentals) Ltd in Plymouth on the 10th October 1986 and kept it for 38 years. The file also contains a clear HPI check dated 12th March 2026.
The car comes with its original “Dealer” book pack which includes the Owner’s manual and service book.
Service history is comprehensive, with 10 stamps in the book up until, 41,208 miles. With further invoices for further services in 2024 and in 2025 at 44,309 miles.
MOT records from 2006 (when first electronically available through the DVLA), to the current MOT, indicate consistent annual usage, albeit conservatively averaging around 300 miles a year. As such, the car has had no long periods of time off the road, which can often lead to the requirement of varying levels of re-commissioning works before reuse.
Incredibly, MOT records indicate only 1 fail since 2006 in 2014, for a faulty rear seat belt mechanism.
The car still retains its supplying Dealer plates that match the rear window sticker.
Finally the car comes with two sets of keys.
Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy of the vehicle descriptions and information, some inaccuracies may occur. It is important that you do not rely on this information but check with Montpellier Motor Cars Limited about any items which may affect your decision to buy this vehicle, as well as examine the vehicle and check the accuracy of the information before purchasing any vehicle. We cannot accept any liability arising from any errors in the data provided.
Whilst every effort is made to represent details accurately on our Web Site, variations or errors may occur and so the information contained herewith does not constitute an offer for sale of any particular vehicle, accessory or specification.
