Marque: Mercedes - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand

PAST: Sleek coupe, with attractive ‘pillarless’ styling that’s practical and comparatively scarce, yet still affordable for a classic Mercedes. Increasingly appreciated for its design and a good one is bound to appreciate further down the years. Solid if not exciting performers even in fuel injected form that surfaced in 1968. Range lasted for a decade and has since aged well.

PRESENT: As we said, hardly an exciting driver’s car but no worse than many other cars of that era plus it’s a Mercedes that will cruise over the ton all day in top security and comfort. Soft riding so handling is fairly ponderous but these were never GTs.

FUTURE: If you want a two-door instead of the four-door saloon then fine but the latter are better value and more versatile. That said prices of the CEs are steadily moving away from saloons so the market is there.

PAST: A sort of affordable ‘300’ and much cheaper to run too care of mildly tuned 190 four-cylinder engine with twin carbs and sportier floor change gearbox. Servo brakes from ‘56 along with RHD cars and a factory hardtop. Replaced by Pagoda range in 1963.

PRESENT: Classical looking 300 clone that’s as affordable as a 190. Not exactly speedy but as you’d expect a good cruiser while less taxed suspension is far easier to handle. As always the SL is beautifully built and looks super classy – much less flash and brash than some of the more modern Merc SLs!

FUTURE: These cars are already blue chip classics and prices at the top end reflect this. Rust can be a worry and restorations can be 300SL dear to the superstructure but the oily bits are everlasting and spares and support pose few worries either.

Back in 1996, it was possible to spend £102,400 on a new Mercedes SL. Now you can pick this silky smooth convertible up for as little as £7500. Born in 1989, these were truly modern Mercs, so banish any idea of creaky classic motoring. Tremendous advances in electronics endowed the two-seater with a pop-up rollover bar to protect you if you overturned, and the latest in anti-skid controls to prevent that from happening in the first place. The hood now retracted at the touch of a button (and, of course, it came with a hardtop as well). Top of the range was the V12 SL600, which gave 408bhp from its 6.0-litre engine and accelerated to 60mph in six seconds. Now these cars are down to around £12k, while the V8 SL500 and the six-cylinder SL280 and S320 are well below that. This was still the era of impeccable Mercedes build quality, so what should you worry about? “The engines are very sound, even the V12,” says Michael Lavers, boss of SL specialist Silver Arrows Automobiles in south west London. “The only thing that will kill them is neglect, or bad luck.” To guard against the neglect, the best method is a rigorous inspection of servicing. Then it’s just a question of not being too cheap. “The difference between a good one and a bad one is not a huge amount,” says Lavers. “A good one is a bargain, a bad one really isn’t”. Lavers, perhaps surprisingly given the pedigree of the SL line, is a huge fan of this one. “They’re stupendously capable and extremely comfortable; one of the great grand tourers. It’s not a racer but there’s beautiful engineering and everything works. And boy, are they good value”.

PAST: Announced in 1963 but with production commencing a year later, this is a limo of classic proportions and status in every way. New V8-powered, this 18-20-footer (depending upon body) that had everything and the kitchen sink: hydraulic seats, front/rear air con, self-levelling air suspension, adjustable dampers, limited slip differential, power assisted steering and dual-circuit, servo-assisted brakes (with discs all round) – the list goes on. Limousine versions feature three rows of seats with standard central glass division.

PRESENT: A car still fit for Presidents and one that still hugely impresses with its forward thinking, all round ability and performance. Hardly a classic for frequent use but one that puts a Rolls to shame.

FUTURE: A classic for sure – just don’t even think about trying to restore one. And where are you going to park it?

PAST: Hugely respected range of saloons and estates that are still regular sights on our roads. Usual line up with range topper 500 launched in spring ‘91 with 319bhp. CE coupes and cabriolets launched in October ‘92, slingshot-saloon estate and coupe E36 AMG arriving in the summer of ‘94. Range re-badged E Series in 1993 and continued in production until 1996.

PRESENT: Prestigious saloons with classic good looks providing top performance, integrity, durability and plenty of space. Relatively affordable still, too. Estates are super practical and long-lasting. 24-valve 300 and AMGs exhilarating. Four-wheel drive ‘4-Matic’ versions technically interesting, with electronically-controlled all-wheel drive.

FUTURE: AMGs are only starting to gain classic status, others almost bangers so buy/cost up with care. Originality can be wanting on many cars too.