Open Air Love Affair
Lucky owners share their passion for the elegant 1993-1995 Mercedes-Benz A124 Cabriolet
article Gary Anderson
Contributions & Images Gene Audette, Steven Beutler, Scott DeRose, Pierre & Margaret Faber, Jeff Hirst,
Titus Johnson, Tom Starrett, Ed Stern, Stephan Wiener, Hamlin York
When Mercedes-Benz introduced the 300CE Cabriolet in Europe in 1992, built on the workhorse 124 chassis that had been in production for eight years, it was the company’s first four-seat soft-top convertible in 20 years. The model entered the U.S. lineup for MY1993. Renamed the E320 Cabriolet, it was built in very low numbers for the U.S. market for only two more model years before being withdrawn when the W210 chassis replaced the 124.
When the cabriolet was cited as a desirable version of the 124 chassis in the Buyers Guide in The Star’s November-December 2017 issue, we were completely unprepared for the positive comments received from owners of this automobile.
We love our cabriolets
Wanting a soft top with luggage space, Connecticut-Westchester Section members Pierre and Margaret Faber found a perfect beauty – a Polar-White 1995 E320 with blue-leather interior – on the internet. Lured by the car’s charisma, they ignored the 100,000 miles on the odometer and decided to take the plunge. Renamed “Arctic Fox” in honor of her snowy seductiveness, their E320 is an indispensable part of their weekend jaunts together throughout New England.
Stephen Wiener of the Southwest Florida Section purchased his Emerald-Green 1994 E320 in February 2004 with less than 30,000 miles. He’s scrupulously maintained its originality; in the past 14 years, he’s barely doubled that mileage – but has loved every mile driven.
Wiener did note that the rear seats aren’t large enough for anyone older than eight or nine. He also said that trim and mechanical parts in common with the W124 sedans are plentiful, but cautioned that cabriolet-specific trim parts (for example, the latches for the top) are difficult, if not impossible, to locate.
Another Southwest Florida Section member, Tom Starrett, has owned his 1995 E320 Cabrio for nearly 12 years, slowly bringing her back to the condition in which she left the showroom. He calls it a labor of love – not to mention money – but he says it assuredly has been worth the time because he gets lots of compliments on the vehicle, particularly what a great-looking car it is. Personally, he thinks Mercedes-Benz squarely hit the mark with the design, engineering and beauty of this great automobile.
Another member of that section, Steven Beutler remembers, “the 300CE was the feature car at the 1993 auto shows. I had mine on order at the Minneapolis dealer for over a year. Hard to believe the window sticker reads $79,490, a huge price for the time. What was I thinking?” He has just replaced the top hydraulic cylinders – a major operation – and looks forward to many more years of enjoyment.
Jeff Hirst of the Pittsburgh Section owned a W124 1988 300TE station wagon before finding his Signal-Red 300CE with 60,000 miles. His is one of only 593 examples sold in the United States in 1993 before the official introduction of the 1994 E320. Of his find, he said: “I have noticed that the A124 seems to be underappreciated in the collector-car market.” In fact, he had to suggest that the model be added to Keith Martin’s Sports Car Market Pocket Price Guide for 2017, which graded it as having “some inherent interest.”
Scott DeRose, also of the Pittsburgh Section, remembers: “My passion for the 124 series started in 1992 when my dad brought home a brand-new black-over-black 300CE Coupe. That car was so far ahead of anything else at the time.” Owning several 124s, he was finally able to buy his own E320 Cabriolet in 2013; aside from installing rebuilt top cylinders from Top Hydraulics, he is amazed at how great this 23-year-old car still is compared with present-day cars.
Hamlin York of Road Star Section, who lists five Mercedes-Benz vehicles on his member profile, fondly remembers his first time on the track with his 1995 E320, which he had just bought used, at StarFest® 1998 held in Savannah, Georgia. The track events were held at Roebling Road and he had the only A124 there. The E320’s pop-up rollover bars confused track officials; it took some debate before York was allowed to drive with the soft top stowed, as seen in a double-page photo in the November-December 1998 issue of The Star.
Gene Audette of the Minneapolis Section doesn’t mind winter. He reports about his E320: “It rides beautifully – all year long – with snow tires on it here in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is still purring after 128,000 miles.” He bought this one online, something he had vowed never to do, from a dealer in Naples, Florida, after his first A124 was broadsided by a Chevy Suburban hard enough to bend the chassis, but leaving him unscathed. What is it with the E320’s popularity in Florida? One wonders what the car thinks of Minnesota winters.
Ed Stern from the Seattle Section sent us a complete portfolio of his 1995 E320, illustrating why this car was – and still is – so desirable. Stern had to give up his original search for an E320 due to an unfortunate divorce. He wound up buying one several years later from a woman whose husband had given it to her as a gift. The car was the last A124 off the line in 1995 and had all the options; she divorced the giver soon after, but she believed there was good karma in selling the gifted car to a divorced comrade.
Stern's car was exceptionally well-optioned, and is now in great shap, so a good example of what the model should look like, including engine, dash, steering wheel, console, and seats.
Owner Titus Johnson of the Greater Washington Section saw his first A124 Cabriolet in California and soon bought the best example of the breed he could find, a black-over-grey automobile, from a classic-car collector in Virginia, and reported his satisfaction. “The car has been superb. Reliable, quiet at high speed, robust and never failing,” Johnson said. “Versatility has been an understatement. My E320 even makes a great top-down Christmas-tree hauler from garden center to home.”
SPECIFICATIONS
1993 Mercedes-Benz 300CE Cabriolet (A124)
RARITY: Distinguished by minor cosmetic differences from the
E320 which followed it, only 593 examples of the 1993 300CE were sold in
the United States before the official introduction of the E320 in 1994
1994-1995 U.S. Market
Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet (A124)
TYPE: Two-door, four-passenger cabriolet with soft folding top
ENGINE: Inline 6-cylinder 3,199cc (M104)
HORSEPOWER: 217 at 5,500 rpm • TORQUE: 229 lb-ft at 3,750 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 4-speed automatic • ACCELERATION: 0-60 mph 8.5 sec
LENGTH: 183.9 in • CURB WEIGHT: 4,025 lb
PRODUCTION: 12,229 units