Highlights
- Top specification 560SEC
- Desirable Almandine Red with beige leather
- In previous ownership for 25 years before the current keeper
- Reported to have been stored inside throughout its life
- Inspected and serviced by a Mercedes specialist mechanic
- NCT valid until July 2028
The Appeal
In 1990, if you wanted the best of the best, you wanted a C126 560SEC. It was the most expensive Mercedes you could buy and the top version of arguably the best-engineered car available anywhere. All of which explains that, when looked after carefully as here, these cars run and run.
This Almandine Red over beige leather 560 is a timely reminder of just how well Mercedes once built cars. With low mileage for the year, it is a nicely specified and very tidy example of a car that was scarce when new and is even rarer today. We are told that it spent 25 years with one owner before the current keeper acquired it. It is reported to have been stored inside throughout its life, and the current owner has continued this practice with dehumidified garage storage.
Upon purchase, the vendor arranged an inspection and service by a Mercedes specialist mechanic in Limerick, covering a range of mechanical items. Compression, coolant leak, and CO2 tests were all passed, and the cylinders were checked with an endoscope camera with no issues found. More recently, the rear differential was re-sealed and the handbrake cable adjusted. The vendor describes the mechanical condition as strong and states the car starts every time and has never let them down. The bodywork and leather interior present well for a car of this age, and it holds a valid NCT through to July 2028. For those seeking a usable, well-maintained 560 SEC with a settled history, this is one to consider.
The vendor says:
“The auction of the 560 SEC allows a new buyer to own one of Mercedes-Benz’s most distinctive classic coupés. The 560 SEC combines elegant, pillarless C126 styling with the character of a 5.6-litre V8, making it a car that still turns heads more than three decades on. The SEC has a presence that modern cars rarely match: a long, graceful profile, generous proportions and the understated design that made this generation of Mercedes-Benz so memorable. I will be very sad to see the car go; it has been a pleasure to own and drive just a comfortable and capable cruiser.”
Key Information
- Mileage: 135,705 miles, indicated (stated as correct by seller)
- Country of registration: Ireland
- Technical inspection status: NCT valid until July 2028 (only advisory: old tyres)
- Technical specs: 5,547cc V8 petrol, four-speed automatic
- Paperwork: No service history present (reported lost); invoice held for specialist service
The vendor says:
“I purchased the car in Dublin from a seller who was a good family friend of a well-known music personality from the K Club in Dublin; he was looking after the sale of his car collection. The well-known music personality had owned the car for 25 years. I was told the car was stored indoors during its lifetime, and I store my car in a dehumidified garage when not in use. When I got the car, it did not come with any service history because it was lost, but I was told it was maintained at Murphy & Gunn Rathgar, an Independent Dealer in Dublin 6, Ireland. I sent the car to a mechanic who is very knowledgeable about old Mercedes in Limerick, who went over the car and performed a full inspection, which included a full service replacing oil, spark plugs, and filters; coolant leak test (Pass), compression test (Pass), CO2 test (Pass), replaced vacuum hoses which had split, cylinders checked with an endoscope camera (No Issues), replaced engine mounts and replaced the strut.
“I also replaced the car battery and did a full wheel alignment. More recent work performed on 22/09/2026 included an inspection which identified that the car needed the diff re-sealing as there was a slight weep, and tightening the handbrake cable for the NCT, which it passed on 23/09/2026, with the only advisory being for old tyres, which are all in great condition with about 70% of tread left and no signs of cracking. The NCT is valid with the car until 03/07/2028, and there is motor tax on the car until 02/2027.”
The Detail
- Inspection and service carried out by a Mercedes specialist upon purchase, including oil, spark plugs, and filters
- Split vacuum hoses replaced and cylinders checked via endoscope with no issues found
- Engine mounts and a strut replaced at the same time
- Battery replaced and wheel alignment carried out
- Coolant leak test, compression test, and CO2 test all passed
- Rear differential re-sealed with new diff oil applied in September 2026
- Handbrake cable adjusted in September 2026
- Wipers replaced at time of purchase
- Tyres reported to have approximately 70% tread remaining with no signs of cracking
- Smart Almandine Red metallic paintwork in good order with a few points to note in photos
- These include a few localised scuffs, chips and areas of light bubbling to paintwork
- Bodywork presents well for its age with a few age-related marks and scrapes
- The vendor believes some paintwork has been done at some point
- Chrome work appears in good order but showing some pitting; rear bumper chrome has been damaged at some point
- A few small coin-sized rust bubbles around the car, the worst on the roof where a mobile phone antenna was previously fitted
- Wheel arches reported to be in very good condition
- Underside reported to look very good with minimal surface rust
- Front and rear screens showing early signs of delamination in the corners
- Sunroof and windows work we are told
- Central locking works from the passenger door but not from the driver's door
- Interior light works from the switch but does not activate when opening the driver's door
- Seat belt butlers operate as intended
- Heated seats work and all switches are believed to be functional
- Radio works but reception is poor due to the old head unit
- Leather interior presents well with signs of wear but no rips or tears; driver's seat shows the most wear
- Leather patch repair applied to the rear driver's side seat base
- Dashboard instruments and heating all work; dashboard is clean with no cracking
- Wood veneer showing signs of age with some cracking on the centre piece around the gear lever
- Reportedly maintained at Murphy & Gunn Rathgar, Dublin 6, though no service history is present
The vendor says:
“The car presents very well for a 36-year-old car with a few age-related marks and scrapes on the bodywork, which should be visible in the photographs. I think the car has had some paintwork done at some point. The chrome work is good but is starting to show some pitting, and the chrome on the rear bumper has been damaged at some point. There are a few rust bubbles starting to show around the car, not very big, only the size of a small coin, the worst being on the roof where there was a mobile phone antenna; it should be visible again on the photos. But the car is looking great and very presentable. The wheel arches are all very good. Underneath looks very good, with very minimal signs of surface rust. There are a few signs of the front and rear screens starting to delaminate, which is common with C126, but it is only in the corners, which you can't see without looking closely.
“The sunroof and windows work, but I do not use the sunroof or rear windows too often, just in case they would not close. The central locking works from the passenger door but not the driver's door; only the driver's door lock opens and closes when using the key on the driver's door. The interior light works from the switch but not when opening and closing the driver's door. The seat belt butlers operate perfectly. The heated seats work, and to my knowledge, all the switches work. The radio works, but the reception is not the best; it is an old head unit. The leather interior looks very good but shows signs of wear, with no rips or tears; the driver's seat is the worst. There has been a leather repair on the rear driver's side seat base, as you can see; a leather patch has been applied again, which should be visible in the photos. All the dash instruments and heating work. The dashboard is very clean with no cracking. The wood veneer around the car is starting to show signs of age, and there is some cracking on the centre piece around the gear lever. The interior is a lovely, comfortable place to be in the car.
“The service history has been unfortunate. I have an invoice for the service and inspection, which was performed when I purchased it. I also purchased a new battery and replaced the wipers; the rear diff has a new seal and new diff oil, and the handbrake cable needed adjustment. It has just passed its NCT on 23/09/2026, which is valid until 03/07/2028, with the only advisory being old tyres, which are all in great condition with about 70% of tread left. The car starts every time and has never let me down. I would consider the mechanical condition of the car to be strong, and it runs lovely with plenty of power when required gearbox changes gears as expected, and the car wafts around as you would expect from a 560 SEC.”
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