1991 Mercedes 500E

• One of just 29 UK-supplied examples, first registered on the 28/03/1991
• Supplied through Bradshaw & Webb, now Mercedes-Benz Chelsea, who have serviced it from new
• First registered to a member of the Vardinogiannis shipping dynasty and subsequently to her daughter
• Detailed history file that includes all the book packs, service book and maintenance invoices
• Meticulously maintained and recently serviced in September 2018 by Mercedes-Benz Chelsea at 35,415 miles
• The ultimate German 'Q-car'. Having lived a cossetted life in Belgravia it is on the open market for the first time

The ultimate 'wolf in sheep's clothing' of the 1990's, the 500E saloon was built to rival the BMW M5 and was created in close cooperation with Porsche. With its engineering department fully occupied with the development of the new S-Class, Mercedes-Benz commissioned Porsche in 1989 to redesign the W124 chassis to enable the 5.0L V8 from the SL to be shoehorned in, along with the necessary changes to the suspension system and drivetrain. The new stealth saloon offered no visible clues on the outside except for very slightly flared wheel arches, wider tyres and discreet side skirts. 60mph arrived in just five seconds and 100mph in just over 14 seconds, remarkable for a car with such stately presence. It was only available as a hand-built, four-door saloon in left-hand drive and the low production numbers rendered it an instant classic.

It is believed only twenty-nine orders were placed by British buyers for the 500E, and this example was supplied by Bradshaw & Webb, now Mercedes-Benz Chelsea, to a member of the Vardinogiannis shipping family on the 28/03/1991. The car resided at Upper Grosvenor Street, Belgravia before subsequently being registered to her daughter at their Chester Square address.

The mileage of 35,500 (atoc) is fully corroborated by the following service intervals in the book:

Pre-delivery Inspection - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 07/05/1991 954 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 10/01/1992 3,989 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 28/01/1993 12,952 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 21/03/1994 16,998 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 12/04/1994 17,829 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 03/11/1994 23,839 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 24/03/1997 26,732 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 08/06/1998 27,651 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 30/03/1999 28,619 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 19/02/2001 29,999 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 26/09/2003 32,070 Service - Eaton Square Group, Belgravia 15/02/2007 33,888 Service - Eaton Square Group, Belgravia 10/02/2011 34,684 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 21/02/2014 35,024 Service - Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea 22/09/2018 35,415

There is a documented engine replacement by Mercedes-Benz, Chelsea on 24/03/1993 at 13,907 miles.

Purchased by our vendor from Silverstone Auctions a couple of years ago and forming part of his significant private collection, it has been lightly used during that period.

One of the finest examples on the market with exceptional provenance, the incredibly detailed history file has reams of Mercedes-Benz invoices, previous MOTs, and all of the book packs. If you are in the market for an 'Executive Express' that is hugely quick but totally refined, this is the car for you.