In recent years, some automakers have narrowed their vehicle offerings to just a few models per brand – especially in the luxury segment. Thirty years ago, Mercedes-Benz offered a staggering 18 different vehicles in the lineup. These included a four-cylinder compact sedan, a V8 roadster, and various coupes, sedans, and station wagons in between. Today’s car slotted as an entry-level gateway to the brand.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190E sedan listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Tampa, Florida. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Wonderful example of the original Baby Benz,” the listing states. “Drives and runs great; overall fantastic condition for a 32-year-old vehicle.”
This compact, executive German sedan used the Mercedes-Benz W201 chassis and was in production for about a decade, from late 1982 through spring of 1993. The model was designed by Bruno Sacco and initially debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1982. Showing just 74,511 miles on the odometer, this Desert Taupe 190E from 1991 reportedly received a rebuilt transmission and new Yokohama Avid tires just 4,000 miles ago. The seller states that the battery is also new, and the car is a “joy to drive.”
True to its entry-level mission is a small 2.3-liter M102 inline-four powerplant mated to a four-speed G-Tronic automatic transmission. The “E” in the car’s model name refers to Einspritzung (or fuel injection). Luckily, even though the drivetrain is fairly miserly in nature, the interior is well-appointed with tan MB-Tex upholstery, woodgrain trim, automatic climate control, cruise control, and a modern Alpine AM/FM/CD player with a USB input.
The listing concludes: “Could be excellent daily driver or potential show car. I’ve taken it to a couple shows and received rave compliments for its cleanliness or condition. I don’t have mechanical ability to maintain this car on my own, so I’d like to see her go to a worthy, capable owner.”
The Mercedes-Benz full-line brochure from 1991 muses, “Owning one Mercedes is so enjoyable, it can only be topped by owning two.” Perhaps this clean, low-mileage 190E is the perfect car to start a collection of your own? The seller is asking $8,200 or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
