If you had a spare £42.75 million hanging around, you could now be the proud owner of a Mercedes-Benz W196 “Streamliner” . But for those of us who aren’t that fortunate, or for some strange reason don’t want a renowned ex-Stirling Moss/Juan Manuel Fangio racing car, there are plenty of other Mercs that make a great – and certainly more affordable – buy.
We asked six experts to name the Mercedes-Benz they think drivers on a more modest budget should look at investing in. In some cases there’s a wide variation in price because obviously age, condition and mileage all have an impact.
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (W204)
Years: 2008-2014
Price: £12,000-£25,000
Mercedes spent much of the 1980s and 90s figuring out how it could out-M3 BMW’s mighty M3 performance saloon. Stuttgart’s solution was to make a muscle car of its C-Class (the W204 shape in Merc speak) using a throbbing great 6.2-litre V8 engine.
The engine not only produces a powerful and deep-throated sound but also delivers an impressive 451 horsepower, surpassing the contemporaneous M3 in terms of power. Moreover, experts claim that it is nearly indestructible as well.
Edward Hall of Edward Hall Classic Mercedes-Benz shared this insight: "These cars represent the final chapter for a truly absurd muscle car that lacks logic. Despite that, they have maintained their charm and kept their worth impressively. I believe these vehicles captured the spirit of the era, enjoyed widespread popularity back then, and today offer an exhilarating choice amidst a rather dismal automobile market."
Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16V (W201)
Years: 1983-1991
Price: £15,000-£20,000
In the early 1980s, Mercedes wanted to pep up the image of its somewhat staid 190E by taking it rallying. British tuner Cosworth was given the job of injecting some beans beneath the bonnet and came up with a 2.3-litre 16-valve engine.
Meanwhile, Audi revolutionized rallying with its dominant quattro four-wheel-drive system. Simply having a powerful engine was insufficient for winning rallies around the globe; thus, Mercedes redirected its modified family sedan towards circuit-based touring car competitions.
Guy Snelling from Anglia Car Auctions Classics said: “These come with either a 2.3 or later a 2.5-litre engine and have been popular for some time. They’re young enough to have some growth in their value but they’re not a common sight on the road. We only get one or two in sales per year. I think they’re a pretty safe bet to put your money into.”
Mercedes-Benz SL500 (R129)
Years: 1993-1999
Price: £7,000-£30,000
Mercedes-Benz has form when it comes to putting larger-capacity engines in its cars to make them a bit special, which is precisely what it did with the SL500. This features a mighty four-camshaft V8 that was initially used in turbocharged form by the fire-spitting Sauber C9 that won the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race in 1989.
Olly Stoner from PCS Mercedes Workshop said: “The R129 SL500s really hold their value well and I think they’ll be the SL to have going forwards. The engine is essentially the same as the one from the Sauber but without the turbos. It’s an incredibly advanced motor for its time and is perfect for that car.”
Mercedes-Benz SLK (R170)
Years: 1995-2004
Price: £1,000-£6,000
A key reason why individuals avoid purchasing roadsters is due to the potential issues with soft-tops being prone to leaks, attractive targets for vandalism, and feeling less refined when driven quickly. This line of thought led to the development of the Mercedes SLK in the early '90s; it became the first vehicle in many years to feature an innovative retractable hardtop.
Basically an abbreviated version of the SL model—the "K" represents "Kurz," which means short in German—the SLK uses the same platform as the W202 C-Class. Initially offered with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that could be found in both naturally aspirated and supercharged versions, soon after came a 2.3-liter option. However, its standout feature continues to be its retractable metal roof.
Adam Chinn from The Car Investor stated, "Their numbers are decreasing, and the less appealing ones are being phased out of the market. In terms of value, I believe they offer a great entry point into owning a convertible sports car. These vehicles boast strong reliability when properly maintained. However, corrosion poses a significant threat to them, which buyers should be wary of."
Mercedes-Benz 280 (W114)
Years: 1968-1976
Price: £10,000-£20,000
Mercedes-Benz built its reputation for reliability through decades of producing exceptionally sturdy sedans. Among these models is the W114 series, which was notable as the brand’s initial offering with completely electronic fuel injection when it launched in 1969. This model iteration also marked the introduction of grooved taillights—a design element that would become synonymous with Mercedes—crafted specifically to avoid accumulation of debris on the light covers.
Owen Shepherd from South Western Vehicle Auctions told us: “They’re beautiful cars to own and drive and they won’t set you back too much. You’ll be looking at £10,000 to £15,000 for a nice one. We sold one last year that had just 35,000 miles on it and had been in one family ownership for its whole life. It went for £22,000.
“That car was the 280 and in my opinion that engine’s a good benchmark. It doesn’t have excessive power but it’ll keep up with modern traffic nicely.”
Mercedes-Benz 560SEC (C126)
Years: 1986-1991
Price: £15,000-£35,000
The S-Class has always been the ultimate in luxury but it wasn’t offered as a two-door coupé until the C126 in 1981. “The 560SEC was as good as it got from Mercedes-Benz back in the late 1980s and early 1990s,” said Simon Haynes from John Haynes Mercedes-Benz maintenance and restoration.
The facelifted second series model was introduced in 1986 with a new 5.5-litre V8 for the 560. But it retained the handsome appearance of the first series.
Haynes commented, "This classic pillarless coupe offers a blend of enduring aesthetics and powerful V8 engine performance, providing both elegance and capability. However, locating a well-maintained instance with reasonable mileage can be tricky. Should you manage to secure such a vehicle, it could turn out to be an excellent long-term investment."
Due to the limited number of high-quality candidates for sale, pricing has become flexible. Top-tier specimens will demand higher premiums currently, with expectations that these premiums will increase significantly in the future.
Subscribe to the Front Page newsletter at no cost: Your daily must-read overview of The Telegraph’s schedule – delivered directly to your mailbox every single day of the week.
