In 1990, Mercedes-Benz graced us with one of the most outrageous cars to ever come from the normally sensible Germans: the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. Aside from being a mouthful, the high-spec 190E became a thing of legend, competitive with cars like the BMW M3, but completely unique in its own right.
The massive rear wing and aggressive stance transformed the normally sedated 190E into an aggressive, track-touting performance sedan. Brand new, the Evo II would set you back a cool $80,000. But finding one today is even more of a hit to your wallet — this one recently surfaced on eBay and has a bid of $135,100 per this writing.
UPDATE: The final sale price was $145,000.
Expensive as it may be, this Evo II is well worth the asking price. Only 502 examples were ever produced in compliance with the DTM homologation rules, all for the 1990 model year. The example seen here is number 55 of the bunch, and under the hood wields its original 2.5-liter Cosworth engine with just 29,852 miles on the odometer.
That performance-oriented engine was good for 202 horsepower (151 kilowatts) brand new, but included an additional “AMG PowerPack” that tacked on close to 25 extra horses (18 kilowatts). The final result was an engine that would produce 224 horsepower (166 kilowatts) and 181 pound-feet (245 newton-meter) of torque.
But that new engine was only part of a very successful equation. The legendary exterior design — penned by Professor Richard Eppler of the University of Stuttgart — featured an adjustable rear wing, 17-inch wheels, and new additions to the front and rear bumper, not to mention an adjustable suspension. The result of the new look was a reduced drag coefficient of just 0.29.
Finding an example in this good a shape is rare. Having been part of a large collection in upstate New York, the previous owner has kept it in immaculate condition throughout its lifetime. But now it’s ready for a new home — it just needs someone with deep pockets to give it one.
Gallery: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II eBay
