1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL w126 - the starting point

Four years after the debut of the ‚Energy Concept‘, the model range underwent extensive refinements, and so in September 1985, again at the Frankfurt show, a completely revised S-Class range was introduced. In addition to a subtle facelift, which mainly altered the appearance of the bumpers, side skirts and wheels, the emphasis was on a restructured engine line-up. The most spectacular innovation in the engine range was a 5.6-liter eight-cylinder unit, which was developed by lengthening the stroke of the 5.0-liter V8 and which unleashed an output of 272 hp. If required, an even more highly compressed version was also available that delivered a mighty 300 hp, although it was not possible to combine this unit with a closed-loop emission control system. But even without a catalytic converter, this ‚ECE version‘ met the emissions standards stipulated by the Economic Commission for Europe. The models fitted with this engine variant – the 560 SEL and 560 SEC – were, in their day, the most powerful Mercedes-Benz production cars ever built.

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photo: All Time Stars