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 eight-cylinder unit, which was developed by lengthening the stroke of the 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 pro