The Mercedes SEC, or S-Class coupé was the pinnacle of Mercedes engineering when it arrived in 1981. Definitely, a statement for the wealthy and discerning buyer, the £28,700 500 SEC was £9,000 more than a Jaguar XJS V12. It was offered in both 3.8 and 5 litre forms, each powered by a silky smooth V8. The ultimate SEC arrived in 1985, the AMG 500 with 340bhp and a £64,521 price tag.
In 1986 the SEC was face lifted, with the 420 SEC replacing the 380 model and the 560 SEC now slotting in above the 500 edition. Changes were subtle; they centred on revised bumpers and a tweaked dashboard, although the 500 was also given an extra 5bhp. The 560 SEC featured seriously large levels of standard kit, including heated front seats from 1988. The final SEC was built in 1991.
