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Ayrton Senna’s Beautiful Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 Could Fetch Over $300k At Auction


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There are few more exciting Mercedes sedans from the 1980s

There are few more desirable Mercedes-Benz sedans than the 190 E 2.3-16, but the one currently listed by RM Sotheby’s has an especially illustrious early life. After emerging victorious at the 1984 Race of Champions in a similar car that was lightly race-modified, Ayrton Senna decided he wanted his own 190 E 2.3-16. That’s the car currently listed here for sale, a beautifully preserved 1985 example in London that’s expected to sell for a value that’s close to three times the cost of a trio of new S-Class sedans.

Related: Ayrton Senna’s Final Honda V10 F1 Engine Could Be the Coolest Thing in Your Living Room

Resplendent In Smoke Silver Metallic
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The winning 190 E piloted by Senna in the Race of Champions was finished in Smoke Silver Metallic, so it’s no surprise that the late legend bought himself a 190 E in the same color. The body appears to be immaculate, from the little wiper blades on the headlights to the spoiler on the trunk lid. Compared to normal 190s, the 16-valve models featured a lower drag coefficient and quicker steering, among other enhancements.

The car was collected by Senna in October 1985, who drove it back to his English residence with his fellow racing driver and friend, Mauricio Gugelmin. Senna held on to the 190 E for two years and covered just under 25,000 miles, before reluctantly selling it, since he would have to move from the UK to Monaco before he signed with McLaren.

After switching hands another few times, the 190 E’s odometer now reads 154,302 miles, during which time it has been meticulously maintained. There are service records dating all the way back to Senna’s ownership, and the sale includes the original paperwork documenting Senna’s ownership and the factory purchase invoice.

Unblemished Black Leather Interior
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The interior is as immaculate as the bodywork, with even the driver’s seat showing no visible signs of wear. Most of it is black, save for some wood trim around the manual shift lever. One quirk is that the car has powered front seats but manual electric windows at the back. And, while air-conditioning is equipped, it was disabled when the car followed its consigning owner to Australia, to comply with regulations there. The system can be restored, however.

Developed with Cosworth, the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine was based on Merc’s M102 unit, but upgraded to produce 183 horsepower in European specification, slightly more than the US-spec model. It was capable of a 0-60 mph run in eight seconds, and came equipped with a five-speed manual.

The 190 E 2.3-16’s racing pedigree and timeless looks have solidified its position as a classic, and this Senna-owned example is particularly special, so much so that it’s expected to sell for between $295,000 and $335,000.

The 2.3-16 wasn’t perfect. Its dog-leg shifter wasn’t the slickest, and it requires more meticulous upkeep and mechanical maintenance than the normal 190. Evidently, this example has received that and more, which is why it’s one lucky—and well-heeled—buyer who gets to take it home.

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