The Mercedes-Benz S-Class ‘W126’ was the second generation of the brand’s flagship S-Class luxury saloon and its gestation began in 1973, not long after its predecessor, the W116, had gone on sale.
The next generation was based off the same platform, but Mercedes wanted to improve the ride, offer better handling and improve fuel efficiency, not least because of the fuel crises of the 1970s that focused buyers’ minds towards cars being more efficient.
The styling was led by Mercedes's legendary designer Bruno Sacco and was conceived to be more aerodynamic, yet just as large and stately as its predecessor. As such, it was one of the first cars to be aerodynamically developed in a wind tunnel, while it also used high tensile steel - an innovation that other manufacturers didn't adopt until the 1990s due to its expense.
The W126 was revealed at the 1979 Frankfurt Motor Show in both short and long wheelbase options, with a choice of six-cylinder and V8 engines.
It continued until 1991, when the W140 S-Class appeared, billed as the world's most technologically advanced car at the time. By 1991, the W126 was a bit of an anachronism albeit a truly adorable one thanks to its old-fashioned values.
This one has a unique appeal, as one of its previous owners was Jay Kay, the international pop star of Jamiroquai fame. It’s a lovely car, unsurprisingly given that the famous previous keeper is a well-known petrolhead.
The W126 comes with a comprehensive history file and has been maintained by Mercedes dealers and specialists, regardless of cost throughout its life. The car has had 6 previous owners, including ‘Jay Kay’ (Jamiroquai), and the mileage has just turned over 78,150 miles from new. The MOT runs until June 2023 and it has recently been fully serviced.
The service history is fully stamped and reads as follows:
0 miles Pre-delivery inspection – Caffyns Salisbury
852 miles Service – Caffyns Salisbury
6,143 miles Service – Caffyns Salisbury
11,739 miles Service – Caffyns Salisbury
18,135 miles Service – Caffyns Salisbury
23,844 miles Service – Caffyns Salisbury
31,774 miles Service – Caffyns Salisbury
37,454 miles Service – Caffyns Salisbury
41,686 miles Service – Tilt Bridgewater
47,254 miles Service – PBM Technical Services Hassocks
54,025 miles Service – Mercare Plymouth
59,733 miles Service – Mercare Plymouth
63,263 miles Service – S.S. Motors Weybridge
69,583 miles Service – Graeme Hunt London
73,246 miles Service – Crackley Garage Kenilworth
76,667 miles Service – Autohaus Werkshoppe Coventry
Unusually for an S-Class this one has velour instead of leather trim and it’s in terrific order, with almost perfect seat facings and no discernible wear to the seat bolsters, which often wear through.
Features of this example include air conditioning (just re-gassed), burr walnut wood trim, an original Mercedes-Benz fire extinguisher, electric tilt and slide sunroof, ABS, 4-speed automatic gearbox with sport setting, electric windows, electric mirrors, electric aerial, central locking, cruise control, and a factory Kenwood stereo radio/CD player.
The original warning triangle, first aid kit and full Mercedes tool roll are still present.
Finished in Blue-Black metallic, the W126 is a stately and handsome-looking beast and still looks fabulous over 30 years since it left the production line, its grand but discreet styling ageing beautifully.
It's an extremely good-looking car with no obvious distractions and is remarkably solid. The paint is superb, with a deep shine and no notable flaws.
All of the chrome is in good condition, as are the factory alloys, one of which has some minor delamination. The tyres are nearly new Kumhos in very good order.
Lots of recent work carried out by fastidious owner
Mercedes’s 2,962cc straight six is a wonderful engine that is renowned for its longevity and reliability.
It fires up instantly from cold and holds good oil pressure, with no excessive smoke or untoward noises, while all of the fluids are at the correct levels. It's renowned for being a tough unit, and we could find no cause for concern with this particular example.
It's also a lot more frugal than the V8 S-Classes, which makes it a much more viable proposition as modern classic daily transport. A list of recent work includes:
• Rear anti-roll bar drop links replaced
• All four, wheel bearings replaced
• N/S/F track rod, stabiliser and offside inner track rod replaced
• Gearbox mount, centre prop-shaft bearing and coupling replaced
If you want a relatively modern and usable classic that has a wonderful mixture of both retro and cool about it, then this is perfect for the job. The impeccable history and celebrity previous ownership simply add to its already immense appeal.
The body and interior are both excellent and between them must make this one of the most desirable W126s on the market. This is a fabulous example of a truly luxurious retro car that you can happily use every day.
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