For Sale: 1995 Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet C in Katwijk, Netherlands

Late in 1984, Mercedes-Benz introduced the W124 series as the successor to the hugely successful W123. It was an enormous leap forward for the mid-size class. Less chrome, a lower drag coefficient and styling cues borrowed from the W201 series launched two years earlier, better known as the 190. At first, buyers could choose between two four-cylinder and two six-cylinder petrol engines, plus a trio of diesels. Later came V8s with outputs up to 380 PS and six-cylinders with 24-valve technology. The W124 series stayed in production until 1997 (coupe and estate) and was in turn replaced, after well over 2,300,000 examples, by the W210 series. The E220 Cabriolet we are offering here, originally delivered in Germany, comes with the wonderfully frugal 16v engine: 150 bhp and sixteen valves. Finished in 512 Almandine Red with matching black leather, the car is a feast for the eyes. Naturally, and just as you would expect from us, the booklets are exactly where they belong, and in those very booklets you can read which servicing has been carried out over the years. After all, empty booklets are worth nothing to anyone. The car largely still wears its original paint, and whatever has been resprayed over the years was done with the utmost expertise. The polished eight-hole alloy wheels finish off the ensemble perfectly. A W124 cabriolet (A124, for those in the know) is a glorious car to drive and a solid, value-holding investment for the future. And it is a four-seat cabriolet that does not flex when you drive it across a level crossing. Good luck finding that in 1995, at BMW or Audi. Hit a speed bump and the cracks would already be shooting through the windows. Then again, those cars were exponentially more expensive than their German counterparts. And you would rather expect something in return for that. This E220 Cabriolet is more than just a car: it is a piece of history, a rare snapshot in time, lovingly preserved and cared for. A car that belongs under a dust sheet in your garage, or that carries you from A to B on every summer's day. And the best part? It is already waiting for you in our showroom in Katwijk. You are most welcome to come and view it at your leisure. The coffee is hot and freshly brewed, and we will happily take the time to tell you everything about this unique Mercedes-Benz. This is not a chance that comes around often: it is an invitation to make a dream come true. With this, you get a good sense of what this car once had to offer. Some convertibles you buy for the summer. This one you buy for the rest of your life. **Special features** - Rare Almandine Red Metallic paint - Manual five-speed gearbox - German delivery history, first registered April 1995 - Full service history from delivery - M111 four-cylinder, 150 bhp - Leather interior - Karmann production, Osnabr�ck With the roof down and the South Downs on my mind, Nick Slinger