1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE-24 Coupe

Mercedes-Benz announced a stylish coupe version of the well-regarded W124 E-Class range at the Geneva Motor Show of 1987, with a lower roofline and more steeply raked windscreen, along with pillarless side treatment in the best Stuttgart coupe tradition.  The wheelbase was reduced slightly, the interior redesigned to accommodate four adults with individual rear seats and novel touches – like the automatic arm that offered front seat passengers the seat belts – set the coupes apart from their four-door cousins.  Heading the range was the 300CE with a smooth six-cylinder engine and – from 1989 onwards – the 300CE-24 with four valves per cylinder, twin-overhead camshafts and variable inlet valve timing to significantly boost power.  With 231 bhp on tap, the 300CE-24 was a rapid performer and could top 250 km/h on the unrestricted autobahns of Germany.  Underneath, the W124 coupe was typically well-engineered with independent front suspension via MacPherson struts and wishbones and five-link independent rear suspension, with coil springs and anti-roll bars front/rear.  The 300CE-24 was always an exclusive package and high prices when new have made them a rare sight on Australian roads.  Today, the 300CE-24 is certainly much more affordable, offering remarkable value for money when one considers how sophisticated the car really is, offering levels of performance and luxury features well above many newer, much more expensive cars.