1986 Mercedes-Benz 190-Series

190E Sedan

2.3L 4 Cylinder Gasoline Fuel

Automatic

WDBDA24D0GF198432

Gasoline

1986 MERCEDES BENZ 190E 2.3L - 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC - 30mpg "Economy with Mercedes Benz Comfort and Style" Leather Interior fair (Driver's seat worn on back & door worn on armrest), Both front seats electric, working electric sunroof & windows Blue Exterior - paint faded - needs new paint - looks ok from a distance All sheet metal straight - no dents - quarter-sized rust behind right front wheel 5 Pirelli tires that look new (full size Pirelli spare is new) Starts right up every time and runs smooth - like a MB should Odometer stopped at 202K - don't know when Rattles/squeaks some = needs chassis lube & front tie rods (drives great up to 55mph, then you can feel it wander a little) A/C doesn't work, but is on car, may need charging Interesting Mercedes Benz 190E history: The W201 project was a landmark vehicle for Mercedes in so many ways. Among them the W201 was a very big change for Mercedes and included substantial risk. Despite the smaller size, the research and development for this new car (the most expensive for any single MB project to that date) turned out a compact sedan that maintained its Mercedes heritage. Praise came from the automotive press and owners who were impressed by the results and felt that it was truly a Mercedes.The design was the smallest, lightest sedan the company built in decades. Chief of Design, Brunno Sacco referred to the body style as "diamond cut" referring to the angular lines of the W201, compared to the more rounded features of the chassis that preceded it. The forward sloped, short rear deck was a break from tradition. It was a design, inspired by the lines of the C-111 prototype vehicles, that subsequently re-defined Mercedes products for a decade or more. He has also stated that the W201 was his favorite, impressive considering he was also responsible for the W126 S-class, the 1990s R129 SL, the CLK, the SLK and the W220 S-class. There was a tremendous amount of innovation in the W201, including the use of light weight steel in the chassis and a Colin Chapman (Lotus Cars) inspired 5-link rear suspension. The company's very expensive gamble paid off with over 100,000 cars being sold in its introductory year, hit a half million in 1985 and by 1988, six years to sell a million cars that retailed for over $20K back in the mid 1980s. The W201 was the chassis that the company selected for its return to circuit racing, via the 2.3-16, after leaving it's racing program following the 1955 LeMans crash. Trivia: Development on the car started in 1976, with a product introduction in 1983, likely the longest gestation period for Mercedes. The problem was making a 1,100kg car as safe as a 2,000kg car with the same driving feel . . before the widespread use of computer design and simulation. During development, there were design plans to put the 'star" in the grill, however Werner Breitschwerdt, the head of the entire project, insisted that it have the upright hood ornament, like all the other sedans. Front wheel drive was ruled out and consolidation of parts with the W124 chassis kept it RWD. During testing, the "mule" was branded with "Ushido" name badging to perhaps make the spies think it was a new Japanese car being tested. Ringo Starr owned a 190E 2.3 that was modified by AMG. I think it' was in the MB Museum at one time. James Brown, the godfather of soul, owned a brown one that sold at Barrett Jackson a couple years back.