The Mighty SEC
The flagship of the Mercedes model lineup. All of Mercedes' latest innovations are reserved for the big coupes. The taut shape of the coupe, lower than the saloon, and wider - with an even lower centre of gravity. The wheelbase is almost 10 cms shorter, for even better manoeuvrability.
This style know as the SEC (W126C) was in production from 1981 to 1991 with only 73,069 units produced worldwide.
The car came only with a V8 engine, either a 3.8, 4.2, 5.0 or 5.6 litres. The 3-digits indicate engine size in litres on all benzes eg. 380, 420, 500 and 560. The design achieved an extremely low (for its time) co-efficient of drag (0.34). Fully recessed wipers sweep 76% of the screen. Trunk capacity is the same as the sedan @ 17.6 ft3.

Engine The 500SEC engine is an aluminum V8 with mechanical fuel injection, contactless transistorized ignition, electronic idling speed control and hydraulic valve clearance compensation. The U.S. version had 231 DIN/hp @ 4750 rpm.

Transmission 4-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. Second gear start or first gear manually selected or by kick-down switch.

Brakes Dual circuit servo-assisted braking system with vacuum type booster. Fixed caliper disc brakes front and rear, internally ventilated front discs. Self-adjusting brake pads front and rear. Lamps in the instrument cluster to monitor brake fluid level and brake pad wear. Foot-operated parking brake with additional shoes and drums acting on rear wheels.

Bodywork Self-stabilizing all-steel body; zinc-coated sheet steel. An extremely rigid, torsion-resistant passenger compartment (safety cell), fuel tank located over the rear axle; impact-energy absorbing front and rear sections; crumple zones with progressive degrees of rigidity; wax coating in hollow members. Aluminum hood and trunk lid.

This style was then replaced in 1991 by the S-Coupe (W140C) and later replaced in 1999 by the current CL-class (W215).

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