Mercedes-Benz C126 buyer's guide

The SEC — the W126 as a grand touring coupe.

Years: 1981–1991 · Models: 380SEC, 420SEC, 500SEC, 560SEC

Overview

The C126 applied the W126's engineering to a pillarless coupe body, creating the definitive Mercedes GT of the 1980s. All SECs are V8s. They shared the sedan's long production run and its strengths, and for years they were cheap; the best 560SECs have since been revalued sharply, while ordinary cars remain bought strictly on condition.

Engines

V8s only: the M116 3.8 and the M117 in 4.2, 5.0, and 5.6-litre forms.

What to check

• The same V8 timing-chain questions as the W126 — single-row chains on early 380s, and ageing guides and rails on all of them.
• Rust and delamination around the rear window, the coupe's signature weakness; check the parcel shelf and trunk below it for water damage.
• The seat-belt presenter arms, which should extend and retract on both sides — charming when working, a known repair when not.
• Door and window seals on the pillarless glass, and the condition of the coupe-specific interior trim.
• Climate control and the general electrical state, as with the sedan.

Values

The 560SEC leads, and genuine pre-merger AMG cars — which must be verified with great care, since badges are cheap — sit above it. Documented, low-mileage standard cars have a firm market; project SECs are worth little because restoration costs are sedan-sized on coupe values.

Buying tips

Inspect the rear window surround before anything else, and treat any AMG claim as unproven until paperwork proves it. A standard, honest 560SEC with records is the buy in this series.

See the 17 C126 cars currently listed.