1994 Mercedes-Benz (W124) E500

The W124 E-class was undoubtedly the 'Q-car' of the 1990s. A Porsche in a Mercedes suit

Hand-built by Porsche and fitted with a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 producing 322bhp @ 5,700 rpm

One of only 1,735 1994 cars built (all LHD); sourced directly from Japan, UK-registered from 2017

Grade 4B, one of the higher possible condition grades for a vehicle of this age from Japan

Its looks, limited numbers, hand-built construction, and unique pedigree, mean the E500 is already a classic

The ultimate 'wolf in sheep's clothing' of the 1990s, the W124 500E saloon was built to rival the BMW M5 and was created in close cooperation with Porsche. With its engineering department fully occupied with the development of the new S-Class, Mercedes-Benz commissioned Porsche in 1989 to redesign the W124 chassis to enable the 5.0-litre V8 from the SL to be shoehorned in, along with the necessary changes to the suspension system and drivetrain. The new stealth saloon offered few visible clues on the outside except for very slightly flared wheel arches, wider tyres and discreet side skirts. 60mph arrived in just 5 seconds and 100mph in just over 14 seconds, remarkable for a car with such 'stately' presence. It was only available as a hand-built, four-door saloon in left-hand drive and the low production numbers rendered it an instant classic with only seven being officially imported into the UK. The 500E was facelifted along with the rest of the W124 range in 1992, to become the E500 E-Series, but the car remained pretty much unchanged in its appeal.

The car presented here is a 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500 E-Series, which was delivered new to Japan, where, as we know, special cars are generally revered and well cared for. This particular car has covered a conservative mileage of just 64,000, with some accompanying paperwork and an M-B service booklet (completed in Japanese). It was sourced from Japan by an experienced and well-respected sportscar dealership and has been UK-registered since April 2017. Our vendor has enjoyed the car very much, but a change in circumstances means he must let his beloved super-saloon go. Finding these cars at any level is difficult and to find one in this condition is very exciting. They really are the perfect storm in terms of a modern-classic – very well-engineered, bespoke, hugely capable, and very rare with a real mystique amongst those who know. This is a genuine example offered at a very reasonable guide price, don"t miss it.