Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC C126
Year of Manufacture: 1985
Power: 231 hp
Engine Displacement: 4,973 cm3
Number of Cylinders/Valves: 8/2
Weight: 1,610 kg
Condition: excellent
Catalog Number: 14
Introduction
After the debut of the W116 S-Class in 1972, Mercedes-Benz began preparing for the next generation in October 1973. The goal of the project codenamed “Project W126” was to provide improved driving experience, better handling, and greater fuel efficiency. The 1973 oil crisis and increasingly strict emissions and safety regulations in the United States had an important impact on the development of the W126 to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency.
Development
After six years of development, the W126 model was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1979. At launch, the S-Class was available in two wheelbase lengths (standard and long) and three variants of gasoline engines, including one inline-six and two inline-eight engines. A diesel engine option was introduced in September 1981 exclusively for the North American market.
Two years after the debut of the original W126 sedans, in September 1981 at the Frankfurt IAA, the range was expanded with a luxury coupe with the factory code C126. The design was again the work of Daimler-Benz’s then chief designer Bruno Sacco, who completed it as early as March 1977. In October of the same year, patents were approved for both body versions. Initially, it was available in two versions: 380 SEC and 500 SEC. The abbreviation meaning? S stood for “Sonderklasse” (special class), E for engines with fuel injection (Einspritzmotor), and C for “coupé”.
Technical Specifications
The two-door elegant model was never offered with six-cylinder engines, as they were not prestigious enough. It was thus the first series-produced Mercedes coupe with a V8. However, it inherited safety features from the S-Class sedans: optional driver’s airbag with seatbelt pretensioner on the front right, limited-slip differential, and anti-slip regulation ASR (from September 1986), and later also a passenger airbag from late 1987.
For the coupe’s introduction, the eight-cylinder engines from the W126 sedans were improved with intense efforts to reduce the significant fuel consumption. The V8 hearts saw increased compression, camshafts with modified valve timing – the injection valves were air-cooled. Idle speed was now electronically controlled.
Four years after its premiere, at the 1985 Frankfurt IAA, alongside the four-door W126 classics, a modernized coupe appeared. It received improved aerodynamics: new bumpers, smoothed side strips, and different larger wheels – on the 560 SEC, alloy wheels with 215/65 VR15 tires. These wheels were available as an option for others. The highest-performance versions also had larger wheel arch openings. The brakes were enlarged, and the rear axle setup was modified for greater comfort. The airbag became a standard feature in the driver’s steering wheel head as in the sedans.
A three-way catalytic converter with oxygen sensor was offered on request, and all models were prepared for its later installation including the appropriately modified ignition system. It became a fixed part of the exhaust system only in September 1986, but until August 1989, customers could still choose whether to have it or not.
The SEC models were produced for a full ten years. Their production, already with dual airbags as standard equipment, was stopped between September and October 1991. Considering the luxury concept and production period, the total number of 74,060 units is relatively high. The most popular variant was logically the 500 SEC model, which was produced throughout the entire period. A total of 30,184 units were sold worldwide.
