For Sale at Auction: 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Chassis No. WDBEA36E4NB770476

By the mid-1980s Mercedes-Benz had lost ground in the performance sedan arms race to both the AMG "Hammer" and the BMW M5. The legendary Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 and 450 SEL 6.9 sedans that defined the category for over a decade felt like a distant memory. To regain the upper hand, Mercedes turned to fellow Stuttgart automaker Porsche for its engineering and performance expertise when laying out plans for a V8-powered super sedan based on the W124 E-Class. Revealed at the 1990 Paris Motor Show, the 500 E featured over 1,100 bespoke components to match the M5 in performance while offering superior comfort. The production process was highly complex, with cars being hand-assembled between Porsche's R�ssle Bau and Mercedes' Sindelfingen plants, taking 18 days to complete each vehicle.

Representing less than three percent of 500 E production, this Smoke Silver Metallic example is one of just 270 produced in color code 702. The Beige leather (275) interior adds to the exclusivity, as nearly 62 percent of these special cars came with a Black leather interior. As a North American-market car, it came equipped with virtually every option available when new, from heated Recaro-designed front and rear seats to automatic climate control and a power rear sunshade.

Delivered in May 1992, the 500 E's clean CARFAX Vehicle History Report for this low-mileage, collector-grade 500 E begins in April 1993 with a Missouri registration at 3,234 miles. It likely remained in Missouri until 2000, when it was first registered in Florida. Its CARFAX records regular Florida registrations through 2025 with 32,500 miles reached by 2012. It is offered today with 33,602 miles at cataloging, in excellent condition, and the consignor notes that it retains many of its original tamper-proof VIN stickers and is believed to have had just a single private owner prior to consignor's acquisition. Offered with a selection of its books, road tools, a clean CARFAX, and digital build sheet, this rare and powerful 500 E may just be the ultimate 1990s "Q-ship" especially when finished in Smoke Silver Metallic, a color that epitomized luxury and taste like no other in its era.