1995 Mercedes-Benz E Class 320 Sportline Cabriolet

N31 RPD is an A124 E320 Sportline Cabriolet that was built in 1995 and fitted with a 3.2-litre straight-six engine and five-speed automatic gearbox. Even better, it’s finished in the rare colour of Imperial Red and Mushroom leather and comes equipped with the even rarer Weismann hard-top. It is a factory original Sportline, with the lowered, stiffened suspension, smaller steering wheel and various other changes from the norm.

And that’s not the end of the story because the seller tells us that he has invested around £18,000 with Garage Classico in North London, Lymington Motors and D-Class to bring it to the condition you see here, a not inconsiderable sum that’s left him “not happy” about having to sell it. 

You see, his plan had been to keep it as a forever car but he and his wife have decided to spend more time at their place in Italy, and despite taking the E320 across Europe with them on previous trips, he’s reluctantly concluded they really need a left-hand drive car – and keeping this one in permanent storage for only occasional use when they’re back home isn’t going to do it any favours

Which means this one if up for sale with a modest estimate and no reserve. 

Yes, that’s right, the seller has sufficient faith in the quality of his car to offer it with no reserve, trusting the market to value it accurately. 

Garage Classico, who did the recent bodywork, is owned by “an Italian gentleman who does everything the old-fashioned way with multiple hammers and formers”, which is refreshing to hear and no less than the A124 deserves. 

He’s done a great job too, if the shutlines and panel alignment are anything to go by. Cutting out and letting in new metal can be a fraught process but the care and attention to detail he put in has been reflected in the finish. 

Imperial Red is a fabulous hue too, and the vibrant colour gives the A124 a lightness and sportiness that the more common colours perhaps lack. The paint itself is in great shape with a wonderful shine to it and no major flaws that we can see.

A brand-new black soft-top and headlining have been fitted by d:class, it rises and falls as it should, is completely free of any wear, rips, tears, or other damage, and incorporates a proper glass rear window with a heating element, the quality of the replacement roof is a great touch and one which goes straight to the heart of how well this car has been curated.

As for the Weismann hard-top, enthusiasts will know how rare these are, and how valuable. When fitted it gives coupé-like elegance and weatherproofing whilst the headlining, which is in Mushroom leather to match the rest of the cabin, adds a real touch of luxury.

The mere presence of the hardtop, let alone its condition - is a real bonus. 

The Mercedes sits on new a set of four 225/45 R17 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres that are fitted to refurbished original AMG wheels. Of course, the spare wheel and tyre match the rest.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

There is a scuff on the offside corner of the rear bumper, with a smaller one on the opposite side.

If you agree, then you’ve probably also noticed the offside headlamp wiper is askew, and the rubber on the nearside one is torn.

The Mushroom leather front seats are not only in a fine condition, they’re also heated (option code 873). Used in conjunction with the powerful heater and factory original air-deflector (option code 283), they offer the winning bidder the opportunity to enjoy top-down, all-season motoring – and if you’ve never driven a convertible in the snow then you’ve one of life’s great pleasures ahead of you. (For the summer you’ve got air-conditioning, option code 580…)

The driver’s seat is also electrically adjustable, and all the seats are in a fine condition following some minor restorative work by d:class in October 2019.

The walnut veneer trim is extensive and includes the centre console, the steering wheel (option code 289), the door cappings, and the armrest (option code 570) whose features include a tambour door over the cubbybox beneath.

The dashboard is clean and undamaged, the switches and instruments are bright and clear, and the carpets, door cards, and rear quarter panels are all very good. 

A new Pioneer radio with flip-out screen incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was fitted in July 2021, and the car also benefits from having four electric windows, electric door mirrors, and a Sportline gearknob and switchable gearbox.

The boot is nicely finished and contains the removeable OE wind deflector, an indoor car cover, the warning triangle, first aid kit, an anti-theft device, the spare wheel with the sticker still on the tyre, and the tool kit.

All-in-all, the cabin is a delight, offering proper seating for four grown-ups with the benefit of rear head restraints that are built into a rollover bar that can be raised and lowered at the press of a button.

As for flaws, the lacquer on the tambour door has seen better days but that that is the extent of our gripes say it all really, doesn’t it?

The stamps in the service history booklet show the following routine maintenance over the years:

• 19.04.1995 – pre-delivery inspection by Mercedes-Benz Woking
• 18.02.1997 and 8,939 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Woking
• 06.01.1998 and 17,142 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 06.02.1999 and 25,725 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 10.03.2000 and 36,102 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 10.03.2001 and 43,211 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 10.02.2004 and 58,662 miles – service by Holford Motor Co. Ltd.
• 21.01.2005 and 65,869 miles – service by Mercstar London Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Specialists
• 06.02.2006 and 73,924 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 07.02.2007 and 80,958 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 06.02.2008 and 83,694 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 09.02.2009 and 89,937 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 08.02.2010 and 96,666 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 07.02.2011 and 100,436 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 07.02.2012 and 103,459 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 11.02.2013 and 104,683 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 19.02.2014 and 109,002 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 29.02.2016 and 111,352 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 01.02.2017 and 112,231 miles – service by S.S. Motors of Weybridge
• 03.05.2019 and 113,699 miles – service by H&M Advanced Autos plus repairs to the seat mechanism, headlamps, exhaust emissions and repairs to both rear wheelarches at a cost of £2,380
• 15.05.2020 and 113,888 miles – fresh coolant and a service including fresh coolant, having the engine bay wiring harness and throttle body rebuilt by Sileck Auto Electrical, and a new air-conditioning dryer installed
• 22.04.2021 and 114,496 miles – service by Lymington Motors including gearbox oil and filter plus new brake pipes and miscellaneous work at a cost of more than £2,200
• 09.07.2021 and 114,675 miles – holiday check by Lymington Motors

Not much wrong with that little lot, is there?

Other recent major bills include one for £3,850 in September 2021 for Lymington Motors to replace the engine bay wiring loom and some other bits and bobs.

And how is it treated during the winter? “Each October the car goes into dehumidified storage on a trickle charger out near Milton Keynes, it is only used between May and October.”

As the video demonstrates, all that hard work has paid off because the inline-six starts easily and idles well. It shows very good oil pressure and there are no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. 

It also revs nicely and does so with the a distant but powerful hum. It’s a lovely sounding engine, especially the exhaust, which has a surprisingly sporty note.

As for how it drives, the seller reports: “The car has recently done a week in central France, where I covered more than 1,500 miles. It had a week’s rest and then toured Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the New Forest, covering around 500 miles on the trip. All without a hiccup.”

But then he has treated it well, including attending to one of the W124s few known weaknesses, the biodegradable engine wiring loom in September 2021: “the wiring loom has been replaced and every possible mechanical defect attended to, all by Scott at Lymington Motors.”

If you were to detail the engine bay few would accuse you of being overly fussy – but then if you were to leave it as it is then few would accuse you of being slovenly, either. 

The underside is decent but is a mix of red paint and underseal. Given how good the rest of the vehicle is we can see the new owner will probably want to get it professionally cleaned and re-protected, not least to cover the areas where the underseal has peeled and flaked away.

Also, the rear section of the exhaust has seen better days, with one of the tailpipes having rusted through. 

The E320’s MoT certificate, which is valid until April 2025, was issued with no advisories.

The car was on the cover of Mercedes Enthusiast magazine a couple of years ago as a teaser for the full-page article inside. A copy is included in the history file. 

Two of the MOT failures are listed as Drivers seat failure to lock in position. This is a feature of the car, the front seatbacks only lock when the engine is running, meaning that rear seat passengers have ease of entry and exit.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, the V5 registration document shows just three previous keepers, and the Mercedes-Benz wallet contains the full book pack, including that very well-stamped service history booklet.

The W124-series is renowned for being almost indestructible, and this delightful E320 Cabriolet is a classic example of this; it bears almost no signs of its 29 years and 120,000 miles, remains in rude good health, and looks nothing like a car that’s not far off entering its fourth  decade.

As for price, we think this will sell for between £15,000 and £20,000, at which price point it should prove to be a solid investment as the price of every flavour of W124s has been slowly but steadily gaining in value over the past few years, with the Cabriolet doing especially well. 

Even better, this one is being offered with no reserve so will sell from the very first bid, which means the canny bidder might just be able to snag themselves a bargain.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.