Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL AMG is an Elegant Brute

Hunt it Down

One of the first reasons anyone should desire this car is the rarity of it. As of this writing, there are only 2 listed for sale with one listed at $109,000 and the other going up for auction at RM Sothebys. It isn’t a stretch to imagine it could reach $150,000 or more, but that’s just one bullet point in a long list that makes this car big game in the Benz world.

Speed Demon

AMG has been synonymous with making speed demons from the early days. And this car is one of the first that allowed them to partner with Mercedes-Benz in 1993. Both horsepower and torque were rated in the mid 300 range with acceleration allegedly capable of keeping up with the likes of the Countach—one of the fastest cars available at the time. These 560SEL AMG models were V8 DOHC autobahn destroyers that wreaked havoc on anyone that was foolish enough to try and outrun them. We can all agree there is nothing cooler than a fast Benz. 

>>Join the conversation about this Mercedes 560 SEL AMG right here in MBWorld.org.

Leather Allover

Everywhere you look in the interior, you’ll see plush leather and amenities that belong in a private jet. Fold down trays in the rear make occupants feel like they’re aboard a Gulfstream so long as the driver doesn’t put his right foot down. Interiors from this era had a certain feel about them that this 560SEL captures perfectly. Hinge screws are exposed, which gives things a slightly industrial feel and remind you how things used to be put together before everything was plastic. This car is a serious throwback to quality craftsmanship when people didn’t cheap out on fittings anywhere. Traffic wouldn’t even matter in this car. 

>>Join the conversation about this Mercedes 560 SEL AMG right here in MBWorld.org.

Powerful Exterior

As subtle as the bodywork is on this car, it has a commanding presence. Although it is boxy, the length of the car provided by the long-wheelbase 4-door design gives it a rather slender appearance. It’s a strange car that looks muscular and stocky from one angle, then smooth and sleek from the next. Overall, a very cool look that minds it’s own business unless you know what you’re looking at. To the average person, this is just another old Mercedes. It is a car that flies under the radar. 

>>Join the conversation about this Mercedes 560 SEL AMG right here in MBWorld.org.

Philosophy

The last reason you want this car in your garage is the overall design philosophy that it pursues. In an era where Nurburgring times can be more important than simply going fast and being comfortable, a lot of newer cars have compromised on the overall feeling they deliver. Yes they’re fast, yes, they are comfortable, but there is an intangible trait that is missing in them. The 560SEL AMG comes from a time when these weren’t factors in the automotive community and is a reflection of simplicity without giving up on ride quality or speed. They are also mechanically simple by comparison and drive in a way that communicates more to the driver. Remember, electronic brakes and other systems were purely mechanical back then. This is a driver's car as much as it is a luxury car and it’s beautiful.

>>Join the conversation about this Mercedes 560 SEL AMG right here in MBWorld.org.

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