1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 420

1997 Mercedes Benz E420 4 Door Sedan Mercedes cars always act like machines, and the machine takes the top spot here-over the spirited BMW, over the cloudlike Lexus, over the poised Infiniti. There's an efficiency about this Mercedes machine that we find compelling. Its compact exterior dimensions are close to those of the BMW, but the passenger and cargo spaces are substantially more generous. Despite the extra room, it's the lightest car here at 3698 pounds, nearly 200 less than the BMW. Car and Driver, Dec. 1996, the E420 takes top spot in four way comparison. For consignment, a 1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 4 door sedan with a title verified 69,362 actual miles. When the W124 E-class was replaced in 1995 by the E320, much praise rained down on the new generation and lasted well into their eight year run. Exterior This one shows up in Amazonite Green Metallic and it is nearly flawless and according to our consignor, a fairly rare spec, especially when coupled with the Saffron Brown interior. Rare or not, it's a fantastic shade of green on a car with such great styling, any color would do! The four round lights up front may remind you of a Jaguar, but take a look at some vintage Benz's, like the '68 200D. Surely, this modern design is a nod to the company's heritage. Naturally, you have the three pointed start at the top of the gentle arc of the hood while the fenders contour to the round lights and in back, the tail lights maintain the angle of the decklid lines, adding some interest to the boxy design. 16-inch wheels are wrapped in 215/55R16 tires and a translucent sunroof lives on the topside. Imperfections are few and include some minor inclusions, and a small gash in the plastic front air dam. Interior Stylish creasing adds interest to the leather inserts of the door panel and it's where your eye is drawn, while the dark wood trim and Saffron Brown plastic that surrounds it is pretty nice too and all four doors present nicely. Front passengers are afforded robust leather bucket seats and the rear bench is also finely crafted and substantial. A brown steering wheel fronts a concise instrument cluster followed by more saffron and wood framing which frames the AM/FM/CD radio and its twin A/C panel stacked in the center. Warm tones of brown are also found on the center console with the shifter and its burlwood coverage over tan carpet and under a soft headliner and it's all in great condition. The flat trunk is finished in gray and contains the remote CD changer. Drivetrain Shrouded and clean is the 4.2 liter DOHC V8 under the hood, fuel injected and putting out 275 horsepower. It's backed by a 5-speed automatic transmission that routes power to the rear axle with 2.82 gears. Undercarriage Other than road spray, surface rust, and typical oxidation of metals, the underside is clean and complete. Power disc brakes are found at each corner and a single exhaust runs through original equipment and terminates as twin tips out back. Suspension consists of coil springs at both independent ends with a 5 link included in back. Drive-Ability That old adage built like a tank is appropriate here as the car feels solid, balanced, and comfortable. It has good power, straight tracking, and despite the conservative styling, excellent handling. All functions on this well maintained E-series operate as intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. If you find a clean E420, count yourself as very lucky. Fortunately, you don't have to search high and wide for another one as this tossable luxury sedan is looking for a new owner and checks all the boxes for a superior car, not just for 1997, but by today's standards as well. It might not have the bells and whistles of today's tech, but we're guessing you won't miss it. Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic an