Mercedes C126: the aristocrat who didn't make it to the Plovdiv Fair

During the years of socialism, when Mercedes-Benz presented its products at the Plovdiv Fair, usually only the more mass-produced models, or those used by the ruling class, were exhibited there, while the most prestigious models of the elite German manufacturer could only be seen in advertising brochures. In truth, there were some occasional exceptions during this period, such as the 300SL, which was shown in our country in 1962, or the 600 Pullmann, which appeared for the first and only time in 1968, but anyway, the bulk of the most expensive models never made it to Plovdiv. Among them was the flagship in the company's range in the 1980s – the C126 magazin de piese auto online.

Mercedes C126: the aristocrat who didn't make it to the Plovdiv Fair

The sporty version of the S-Class, classified with the letter abbreviation SEC, which debuted for the first time to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1981, is distinguished by one unique feature. This is the first time in the post-war company history that the S-Class base has been used to produce a coupe. The model is available in two versions – 380SEC and 500SEC, equipped with a V8 engine with direct injection. The cylinder head and block are cast from an aluminum alloy, and the combustion chamber is more compact compared to previous models, so as to reduce heat losses. The compression ratio has been increased to 9.4 and 9.2 respectively, which also contributes to increased economy.

Interestingly, the maximum power is reduced compared to that of the older models, with the 380SEC producing 204 hp at 5250 rpm, and the 500SEC producing 231 hp at 4759 rpm. Thus, the parts of the crankshaft mechanism become lighter, which in turn contributes to reducing the weight of the engine and limiting mechanical friction losses. In turn, the mechanical efficiency of the engine is also increased thanks to the fan with automatic speed regulation depending on the temperature of the coolant. A positive impact on the overall operation of the engine is also the shift of the maximum torque to lower crankshaft speeds. This is achieved by selecting the gas distribution phases, increasing the compression ratio and reducing the nominal and maximum speeds. Idle speed is reduced to 500 rpm and can be maintained at this value by an electronic governor. This reduces fuel consumption when idling by more than 40% in urban conditions.

The body of the C126 impresses with its perfect aerodynamic shape and precise design, with the drag coefficient reduced to a record for this class of 0.34. The interior is extremely luxurious, while complying with the strictest and most precise safety standards. The four seats are equipped with self-retracting seat belts.

The Mercedes-Benz C126 is one of the most perfect representatives of the elite German brand. It has never been shown at the Plovdiv Fair, but it is invariably present in advertising brochures published in Bulgarian, where it is always described with exceptional superlatives.

As far as is known, the first such copies were imported to Bulgaria by private owners in the early 1990s, when production of the model had already been stopped. During the same period, one such car was even enlisted in the Sofia police.

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

The sporty version of the S-Class, classified with the letter abbreviation SEC, which debuted for the first time to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1981, is distinguished by one unique feature

Interestingly, the maximum power is reduced compared to that of the older models, with the 380SEC producing 204 hp at 5250 rpm, and the 500SEC producing 231 hp at 4759 rpm