S-Class W126 Modern classics: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class of the W 126 series


The Mercedes-Benz W126 is a series of passenger cars made by Daimler-Benz AG. It was marketed as the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and manufactured in sedan/saloon (1979–1991) as well as coupé (1981–1990) models, succeeding the company's W116 range. Mercedes-Benz introduced the 2-door C126 coupé model, marketed as the SEC, in September 1981. This generation was the first S-Class to have separate chassis codes for standard and long wheelbases (W126 and V126) and for coupé (C126).
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I can never forget this car and the w123 the two cars that made me be inove with Mercedes I was a young guy and we had many of these w126 my family I mean extended had each variant

280se
380se a family favourite
300se
420se
500se

And the boss 560sel that one was my favourite.. I still remeber the take off was amazing and I used to play with the button where you could change the horn sounds..

The good old days when I was young.
 
Now if your standard S-class W126 was not luxurious enough, I am sure you wouldn't mind travelling in the back of one of these that had been specially kitted out by Ronny Coachbuilding/L'Etoile.

Ronny Coachbuilding / L'Etoile didn't just do conversions that involved cutting and welding; some conversions were less drastic though prettic drastic in their own right. This small article is about 1000SEL-type conversions based on standard length Mercedes-Benz SE/SEL done by Ronny Coach Building Company. Exterior components were either made in-house and sourced at other coachbuilding and tuning-companies (AMG, Lorinser, SGS, etc). Interiors were built in-house.



600-nose-07.webp


A L'Etoile 1000SEL; in other words a completely tricked-out Mercedes-Benz (500)SEL with every 1985 option imaginable. Dressed in a very bright green-metallic paintjob this car sports a so-called 600-nose; a custom-made bonnet that resembles the look of the nose of a "Grosser Benz", the Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100). Most of these bonnets were produced by Styling-Garage and were installed by many coachbuilders in the mid-1980s. Chrome-work on the 600-nose was gold-plated. The bumpers on this 1000SEL appear to be Lorinser-ones. As with many coachbuilders in the 1980s, who's core-bussiness was the coachbuilding and interior-work, components for dressing up the car were sometimes borrowed. An obvious choice as one can imagine how much time, (design)talent and effort is required to create a good-looking set of bumpers and spoilers. On top of that; it's very taste sensitive. As we can see later on L'Etoile used different brands of bumpers and skirts as well.



RonnyCoachbuilding_W126_1000SEL_04.webp


The rear-end of the green L'Etoile 1000SEL shows various interesting details: the roof mounted boomerang-antenna for the TV, the bootmounted antenna for the carphone, a custom boot lid, full-width tail lights (an SGS item?) and a Lorinser rear bumper that seems to be modified to hold a license plate.



RonnyCoachbuilding_W126_1000SEL_01.webp


The interior of the green-machine: a dashboard wrapped in snow-white leather with a custom compartment that holds two silver beakers. Pillars and rooflining are upholstered in same white leather, as are the seats, steering wheel, and every other panel that isn't covered with wood.



RonnyCoachbuilding_W126_1000SEL_02.webp


A custom armrest with stowage compartment and the white falcon's head gearleaver, probably with diamonds for eyes. Behind the armrest we can see part of the centreconsole.



RonnyCoachbuilding_W126_1000SEL_03.webp


Now here's the passenger side of things; a centreconsole that holds a TV, Clarion G80 component stereo and a minibar. Above the front seats there's a roof-mounted console which houses stereo and possibly other functions. And then there's a couple of tables.... four of them! Two in the back of the front seats and two (electrically operated ones) mounted in the doors. Curtains and a carphone are almost not worthy of mentioning.



1000SEL_RonnyCoachbuilding_1_01.webp


This L'Etoile Mercedes 500SEL was for sale in the USA in the late 1980s. The car was used for an Episode of "Miami Vice". It's a 1000SEL-type conversion with Lorinser front- and rearbumpers, Ronal 5-spoke wheels, bommerang antenna and a bonnet with integrated grill as was available from Lorinser.
 
This has got to be one of the most pristine condition W126 models ever and probably one of the most rare. 1982 Mercedes 300SD Turbodiesel with only 3994miles on the clock.

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Rolf said:
Now if your standard S-class W126 was not luxurious enough, I am sure you wouldn't mind travellin...
Click to expand...

An unfortunate, glaring reminder of why I didn't really like the early-to-mid 1980s' much.
 
This thread is sending me down "Memory Lane"...

A good, since long passed, motorsport journo acquaintance of mine introduced me to BRABUS founder and director, the late Bodo Buschmann*, at the 1985 Essen Motor Show venue. I clearly recall just how impressed the BRABUS display left me. All cars featured were painted a glossy black. And Herr Buschmann was a very friendly, highly likeable gentleman.

buschmann_1984.webp


*= "Name-dropping alert".
 
Quite comical to see a test of this 1982 300SD US spec W126. As can be seen it ain't an AMG in the performance or handling stakes.
 
Well @Rolf you have to remember that a non-turbo 300D W123 needed just to 20 seconds to reach 60 mph, so the W126 300 SD was a rocketship in comparison.
 
J.E said:
Well @Rolf you have to remember that a no...
Click to expand...
My friend in Technical College had a 1980 240D Automatic so I fully understand how slow those older Merc diesels were. That car I remember was painfully slow, LOL he had to manually shift the auto box to get it racing to 60km/h at least to try and get away from the red lights. I remember he told me the top speed was 130km/h and he got 140km/h on a steep downhill. But it was a very comfortable car with great seats and lots of space. It handled relatively well, he pushed it down Chapmans Peak tight corners and the car had heavy body roll and some oversteer, but was quite fun,

0-60mph in .........25sec

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J.E said:
How Miami Vice is this?

SGS-1000SGS-25.jpg


The Styling Garage 1000 SGS based on the 500 SEL.
Click to expand...

Hamburgs' notorious St. Pauli "Reeperbahn" neighborhood was full of cars such as this (as well as SECs') back in the 1980s'. The brothel and strip club proprietors' ride of choice. Along with C3 and C4 Corvettes. A really crazy place back then-even crazier (and potentially far more dangerous) nowadays.
 
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I'd take it over the new one in a heart beat
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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz Group AG is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Established in 1926, Mercedes-Benz Group produces consumer luxury vehicles and light commercial vehicles badged as Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, and Mercedes-Maybach. Its origin lies in Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft's 1901 Mercedes and Carl Benz's 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which is widely regarded as the first internal combustion engine in a self-propelled automobile. The slogan for the brand is "the best or nothing".
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