The modern Mercedes-Benz is a car that’s packed with technology, sharp styling, and coveted the world over. It wasn’t that much more different forty or even fifty years ago. Let’s take the Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class as an example. Introduced in 1979, the W126 is regarded as an iconic model of the Star’s lineup, even in 2022. The coupe variant, known as the SEC is the lesser-known choice for the well-heeled in the Eighties, as the Hollywood sweetheart R107 SL stole the show. If you’d like to buck the trend with a classic Eighties two-door Merc that isn’t an SL, this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC is a fine contender for your attention, with just 75,000 miles on the clock since new: not bad for a 35-year-old car.

Exterior and Interior

With lines penned by legendary Mercedes-Benz designer Bruno Sacco, one can gaze upon this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC all day, wearing its black and silver paintwork. What’s more interesting is that this example wears classic Mercedes-Benz rims from an older model; a 1981 design to be precise. Looking closer, you begin to notice the finer details on this 194-inch long car, such as the wipers for the headlamps, the chrome detailing, and of course, the 560 SEC badging at the rear proclaiming that this is the top of the range model. The head and tail lamp lenses are in good condition for their age as well, which is not an easy thing to find. The interior presents itself in a brown-tan theme, and is in reasonable condition for the age of the car. It’s not showroom fresh, but hasn’t been used badly either. Four adults can travel in this car, and it’s got a decent helping of tech for the 1980s. There’s of course no digital instrument cluster or MBUX infotainment system, instead you have the supremely readable analog Merc cluster, and the sound system’s head unit is an aftermarket one that feeds a new Kicker amplifier and new speakers. You’ve also got front electric seats, climate control, electric windows and electric mirrors. The trunk is also in reasonable shape, and there’s a fire extinguisher included for peace of mind, although we highly doubt that you’d need to use it.

Engine

Packing a 5.6L fuel-injected V8 beneath the long hood, it’s no surprise that this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC has a decent go-factor to match its looks. North American cars were sadly endowed with lower power figures than their German counterparts owing to emissions regulations, however the output when new was still in the 240hp and 288lb-ft region, driving the rear wheels via a smooth-shifting 4G-TRONIC four-speed automatic transmission. That means zero to sixty in under eight seconds when new, and a top speed of over 140mph. These Mercs aren’t rubber-burners as you might glean, but long-distance cruisers.