Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 500 › 500 SEL special protection version (W 126) · Royal, state & papal · 1981–1985

Mercedes-Benz
500 SEL special protection version (W 126)

Factory-armoured first-series 500 SEL.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL SPECIAL PROTECTION VERSION (W 126) 1981–1985
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
376BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
376 Built
Years
1981–1985
Engine
Front, longitudinal; eight cylinders in 90 degree V, light-alloy block · 4,973 cc / 5.0 LFactory: 4,973 cc
Power
179 kW / 243 PSFactory: 240 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 500 SEL special protection version was the factory-built armoured variant of the long-wheelbase W 126 S-Class. The Mercedes-Benz archive lists 376 cars from January 1981 to September 1985 and states that there was no list price; the weight of each car depended on the extent of the protection equipment fitted. A separate long-wheelbase version appears in the archive with just two units.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityVery Rare 376 · Built1,2
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionspecial protection versions 3761,2 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The archive gives production of the 500 SEL special protection version from January 1981 to September 1985. The engine was the M 117 E 50, coded 117.961 and from October 1981 117.963; at that change the compression ratio rose from 8.8 to 9.2 and the stated output fell from 240 hp to 231 hp, with a lower final drive of 2.24. An antilock system was optional and became standard from December 1984.

A second page covers a long-wheelbase special protection version, produced from January 1983 to August 1985 in two units, with a length of 5335 mm, a kerb weight of 2600 kg and a gross weight of 2930 kg.

Separately, Artcurial describes a 500 SEL sold new in Paris to the Dassault group as having light armouring on the side windows and doors at the client's request. The catalogue does not say whether that car belongs to the factory series.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 500 SEL special protection version (W 126).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 117 E 50 / 117.961; from 10.1981: 117.9631
LayoutFront, longitudinal; eight cylinders in 90 degree V, light-alloy block1
Cylinders81
Displacement 4,973 cc / 5.0 LFactory: 4,973 cc1Tax classification figure: 4939 cc.
Bore 96.5 mmFactory: 96.5 mm1
Stroke 85 mmFactory: 85 mm1
Compression ratio8.8:1; from 10.1981: 9.2:11
Valvetrain1 intake and 1 exhaust valve per cylinder, overhead; 1 overhead camshaft per cylinder bank, double roller chain drive1
Fuel systemManifold injection, mechanically controlled (Bosch K-Jetronic)1
Power 179 kW / 243 PSFactory: 240 hp · converted1Rating: manufacturerInitial rating; from 10.1981: 231 hp / 170 kW at 4750 rpm.
Power at 4,750 rpm1
Torque 404 NmFactory: 404 Nm1From 10.1981: 405 Nm at 3000 rpm.
Torque at 3,200 rpm1From 10.1981: 3000 rpm.

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed automatic transmission (planetary gear system, hydraulic torque converter)1
Gears41
Gear ratiosI: 3.68; II: 2.41; III: 1.44; IV: 1.0; R: 5.141
Final drive2.82; from 10.1981: 2.241
Driven wheelsRear wheels1

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisSteel unit body1
Front suspensionDouble wishbone with coil springs, supplementary rubber suspension and torsion bar stabiliser1
Rear suspensionSemi-trailing arm axle (hydropneumatic level control optional); coil springs with hydropneumatic spring struts, torsion bar stabiliser1
BrakesHydraulic dual-circuit with vacuum booster; disc brakes front (internally ventilated) and rear; antilock system optional, standard from 12.19841
SteeringRecirculating-ball power steering1
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 3,070 mmFactory: 3,070 mm1
Length 5,135 mmFactory: 5,135 mm1
Width 1,820 mmFactory: 1,820 mm1
Height 1,440 mmFactory: 1,440 mm1
Front track 1,545 mmFactory: 1,545 mm1
Rear track 1,517 mmFactory: 1,517 mm1
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tank 90 LFactory: 90 L1Source states l.

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The archive gives the type as 126.037 and the design name V 126 E 50, with the M 117 E 50 engine coded 117.961 (117.963 from October 1981), a 3070 mm wheelbase, 5135 mm length, 215/70 VR 14 tyres on light-alloy wheels and a 90-litre tank above the rear axle. The kerb and gross weights are not fixed figures because they depend on the protection equipment, and no list price existed. The two long-wheelbase cars measure 5335 mm long and 1470 mm high. Armour fitting is the feature to verify: a catalogue describing only light armour on windows and doors is not the same thing as a factory special protection car.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    500 SEL (special protection version) / V 126 E 50, 1981 - 1985 Level A Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • Units produced : 376
    • Engine type : M 117 E 50 / 117.961; from 10.1981: 117.963 (Specifications)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 8 / 90° V; light-alloy block (Specifications)
    • Total displacement : 4973 cc (tax classification: 4939 cc) (Specifications)
    • Bore x Stroke : 96.5 x 85.0 mm (Specifications)
    • Compression ratio : 8.8; from 10.1981: 9.2 (Specifications)
    • Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft per cylinder bank (Specifications)
    • Fuel system : manifold injection, mechanically controlled (Bosch K-Jetronic) (Specifications)
    • Rated output : 240 hp / 177 kW at 4750 rpm (Specifications)
    • Rated torque : 404 Nm at 3200 rpm; from 10.1981: 405 Nm at 3000 rpm (Specifications)
    • Rated torque : 404 Nm at 3200 rpm (Specifications)
    • Gearing : 4-speed automatic transmission (Specifications)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.68; II. 2.41; III. 1.44; IV. 1.0; R. 5.14 (Specifications)
    • Final drive ratio : 2.82; from 10.1981: 2.24 (Specifications)
    • Driven wheels : rear wheels (Specifications)
    • Frame design : steel unit body (Specifications)
    • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Specifications)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : semi-trailing arm axle (hydropneumatic level control optional) (Specifications)
    • antilock system optional (from 12.1984 as standard) (Specifications)
    • Steering : recirculating-ball power steering (Specifications)
    • Wheelbase : 3070 mm (Specifications)
    • Length : 5135 mm (Specifications)
    • Width : 1820 mm (Specifications)
    • Height : 1440 mm (Specifications)
    • Front / rear track : 1545 / 1517 mm (Specifications)
    • Fuel tank: position / capacity : above the rear axle / 90 l (Specifications)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 500 SEL (special protection version) Level A
    • 376 special protection versions
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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