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Car of The Day: August 16, 2009; Siku '86 Mercedes-Benz 500 SE
Topic Started: Aug 16 2009, 01:28 AM (492 Views)
JustDavid
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SUV
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Today’s Car of The Day is Siku’s Mercedes Benz 500 SE.

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The Mercedes-Benz W126 was a series of flagship vehicles manufactured by German automotive marque Mercedes-Benz. Premiering in September 1979 as the successor to the earlier W116 line, the W126 was the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz flagship to officially bear the S-Class name referring to Sonderklasse or "special class." The W126 was initially offered in straight-6, V8, and turbo diesel sedan models. In September 1981, 2-door coupé versions of the W126 were introduced. Compared to its predecessor, the W126 was more aerodynamic, fuel efficient, capacious, and powerfully engined. The W126 S-Class debuted a new Mercedes-Benz design style which was subsequently used on other vehicles in the company's lineup. The W126 line also introduced many Mercedes-Benz safety innovations, including the first airbag supplemental restraint systems, seatbelt pretensioners, and traction control.[1]

The W126 had a twelve-year production run between 1979 and 1991, the longest of any S-Class generation since the flagship models were first built in the mid-1950s. The different body styles of the W126 S-Class achieved a combined sales total of 892,123 units (818,063 sedans and 74,060 coupés), making the W126 the most popular S-Class ever produced.[1][2]

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Following the debut of the 1970s generation W116 (which also included the flagship Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9), Mercedes-Benz began plans for the next-generation S-Class model. Codenamed "project W126,"[1] the project had specific goals: an improved ride, better handling, and improved fuel efficiency.[2] These improvements were aimed at helping retain the S-Class' market leadership as the world's best-selling prestige luxury sedan.[1] Following the 1970s oil crisis, Mercedes-Benz had made fuel efficiency an especially pertinent goal (named "Energy Program"),[3] even in the large V8 engined versions of the S-Class.

In terms of the body design, the objective of the W126 design team, led by Mercedes-Benz's Bruno Sacco, was to produce a car that was sleeker and more aerodynamic than the previous model. The application of lighter materials and alloys combined with thorough wind tunnel testing to reduce overall drag meant the car consumed about 10% less fuel than its predecessor.[2] The maximum speed was also increased (250 km/h in the most powerful model).[1]

After six years of development, the W126 was formally introduced at the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (International Motor Show, or IAA) in Frankfurt on September 1979. The initial lineup featured seven models in standard (SE, SD) and long (SEL, SDL) wheelbase sedan body styles: the 280 SE/SEL, 380 SE/SEL, 500 SE/SEL and 300 SD. Technically, the long wheelbase (SEL) variants were codenamed V126, but this was not popularly known.[1] In 1981, the coupé version (SEC) of the W126 S-Class premiered at the IAA with the 500 SEC model. In 1981, Wheels Magazine selected the W126 model 380 SE as its Car of the Year.[4]

Four years after the introduction of the fuel-efficiency "Energy Program," the model range had been reworked completely. In September 1985, again at the IAA in Frankfurt, the reworked model range was reintroduced. Apart from visual changes to the bumpers, side covers and alloys, the changes made to the available collection of engine variants was most visible. Two newly-constructed 6 cylinder engines and new 4.2 and 5.6 litre V8's were added, and other engines were further upgraded.

The W126 generation was replaced by the W140 in 1992, although a satellite factory in South Africa is known to have continued production until 1994.

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Having a metal base makes this a heavy casting. It’s also fairly large, as are most Siku die casts. The wheels are a bit of a let-down, but overall it’s well-done. Having a hood ornament is a definite plus for me too.

Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W126

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diecastdingo
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Minivan
I like that one! Siku have stuck to their own style over the years, and that's got to be a good thing.
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
The casting itself looks pretty good. I'd paint the interior into a tan or grey, do some outside detail painting and changes, and it would make a really good M-B.
Nice choice, but I think the Solstice is going to run away with this week's vote. :)
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Sak
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Ezekiel 25:17
I've got this one. Sikus by this time were done to a uniform 1:55- which makes for large cars that don't fit my diorama.

Love' em, though.
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JustDavid
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SUV
Sak
Aug 17 2009, 05:17 PM
Sikus by this time were done to a uniform 1:55- which makes for large cars that don't fit my diorama.

Love' em, though.


Totally agree.

Edit: I posted pics in the custom bay of a 500 SE I did several years ago. Thanks for looking... :D
Edited by JustDavid, Aug 18 2009, 10:07 PM.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Another nice model- I think this one has eluded me based solely on its size. Next time I see one though I will probably grab it. :thumbup:
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james_autos
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Minivan
I used to buy job lots of Sikus from Germany on ebay; some I sold on and some I kept for my collection, and this model was probably one of the most common I encountered. I had loads of these pass through my hands from beaters to mint/boxed, but now I'm down to about 2.

As it is, it doesn't stand out much, but customised it looks fantastic as the casting is of very good quality.
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