1985 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3-16 Sedan (LHD)

Description

In 1982 Daimler-Benz redefined the compact luxury sports saloon with its brilliant 190E, essentially a Holden Camira-sized model built to the same exacting standards as an S-Class and offering the highest levels of safety and dynamics. In 1984, to homologate the 190E for the German Touring Masters (DTM) racing series, the company introduced the 2.3-16 edition. With its 16-valve 2.3-litre Cosworth four-cylinder engine, reworked suspension and brakes, limited slip differential and body addenda, this hot little Mercedes was ready to tackle the world’s most demanding racetracks, and why not start with the newly upgraded Nürburgring GT circuit. To celebrate not only the launch of the newest version of the ultimate racetrack and its prospectively giant-killing 190E 2.3-16, Mercedes conceived the Nürburgring Race of Champions to be run on 12 May 1984. Twenty cars were plucked from the first production batch then fitted with rollcages, racing seats and race tyres, and lowered 15 millimetres. Twenty current and former grand prix drivers were invited to drive them. This astonishing roll call included nine former world champions, two future world champions – Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost – and the greatest driver never to be world champion, Stirling Moss. Naturally, each car was boldly emblazoned with its driver’s name. Famously, Senna who had qualified third and was second behind Prost by the first corner, went on to win the race from Niki Lauda and Carlos Reutemann.
The 190E 2.3-16 was built only in left-hand-drive and was never sold new in Australia but a number of examples have been privately imported over the years and, naturally, are now highly collectible.