885-mile Mercedes 190E Evo II heads to auction

A 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo II with just 885 miles on the clock will go under the hammer next month. The 2.5-16 Evolution II will be part of Silverstone Auctions’ sale at Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace on Saturday, 3 September.

The car, number 452 of 502 cars made by Mercedes-Benz, was supplied new to the UK by Lancaster Mercedes-Benz in 1990, one of only four cars that were officially sold new in the UK. The dealer sticker still resides on the back window in pristine condition – a testament to its originality.

The car was purchased by a collector and stored at the supplying main dealer for approximately ten years, covering virtually no road miles in this time. The bodywork is finished in black and the paint and panel fit look superb.

The same can be said for the black interior, which seems to have no wear to the leather seats, dash, door cards or headlining. The engine bay is totally original and correct, with components that have been incredibly well preserved over the past 26 years.

If you like the look of it, then you’ll need to have deep pockets. The guide price for the car is between £180,000 and £220,000.

Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said, ‘Any fan of the legendary Group A Touring Car era needs to see this car to truly appreciate both its originality and splendid collector status. Without question, one of the lowest mileage examples one could ever find on the market today.’

Twenty-five years ago, the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show. Legend has it that the limited run of 502 cars were sold pre-launch, possibly being squirrelled away by international car collectors.

The bitter rivalry between BMW and Mercedes-Benz in saloon car racing at the time throughout Europe helped hone the greatest touring cars of the era. The Evo II had to win against one of the best touring cars of all time, the E30 M3.

Compromise was out of the question and the touring car, developed for Group A racing using this sports saloon as a basis, went on to acquire legendary status. Mercedes-Benz took the first three places in the DTM championship in the 1992 season with this vehicle, which was referred to as the Evo II.

For more information on the car and Silverstone Auctions’ sale at Salon Privé please visit the website.