1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II

Thirty-two years ago, the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II thrilled professionals and the general public alike when it was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show. Legend has it that the limited run of 502 cars were all sold pre-launch, possibly squirrelled away by international car collectors. The long-standing rivalry between BMW and Mercedes-Benz was carried over into motor racing and helped to hone some of the greatest Touring Cars of the era. The Evo II was set the unenviable task of beating one of the most successful racing saloons of all time, the BMW E30 M3. A compromise was out of the question and the Mercedes Touring Car, developed for Group A racing using this sports saloon as a basis, went on to acquire legendary status in a number of national championships. Mercedes-Benz took the first three places in the DTM championship in the 1992 season with this vehicle, which was referred to succinctly as the Evo II.

The engine's output had been raised once again in comparison to the first Evolution model from the previous year, and was now generating 235 horsepower. Top speed was 250km/h, and the Evo II accelerated from a standing start to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds. The body had also undergone further refinement on an aesthetic and aerodynamic level and the car's sporting pedigree was emphasised by its muscular stance. The Evo II's bodykit is perhaps the most outrageous ever applied to a production car, and the fact it was a product of the ultra-conservative world of early-nineties Mercedes-Benz is even more incredible. Its ostentatious, fully adjustable, rear spoiler was aerodynamically perfect and the front splitter would make a decent job of cutting the grass. However, despite outward appearances, the Evo II is seriously comfortable and totally tractable in daily use.

The car we are offering today is number 322 of 500 in 'Blauschwarz', a striking combination of blue-black metallic paint. The interior remains largely identical to a highly specified 190 E of the period, however, Black Anthracite leather, wood trim and a couple of discreet touches show how special this car is. All Evo IIs had their production numbers on the dog-leg gear stick and fortunately, considering the proximity of the front spoiler to the tarmac, the full SLS suspension allows the ride height to be adjusted from an interior switch. The options ordered when new included, air conditioning, a fire extinguisher, rear mounted loudspeakers and heated front seats, luxuries of which a Ferrari Scuderia driver could only dream.

It is an honour for Silverstone Auctions to sell our vendor’s second Evo II, reluctantly leaving his Mercedes-Benz collection. We sold the vendor’s first Evo II at the Silverstone Classic in 2015. Supplied by Mercedes-Benz AG of Dusseldorf 11th June 1990 the car is presented to auction with an odometer reading of 88,767km or 55,157 miles. Appropriately serviced when in regular use by its three previous German owners, the service book shows 10 stamps, and the last stamp was on 9th October 2012 at 88,598km, just prior to our vendor’s purchase and shipment to the UK where it has not been registered and driven up to temperature on private roads for the last 10 years. The car will receive a fluids service prior to auction in our vendor’s private workshop.

The car is presented to auction with wallet that includes the service book, copy German title documents, receipts and "Evo II" show plates.