It’s a funny thing, that the longer I’ve been a part of Curbside Classic, the fewer cars I actually stop to photograph on a regular basis. As other veteran writers here have expressed before, as time goes on and certain cars are extensively covered, often multiple times, one can simply run out of things to say. Furthermore, as anyone who has photographed a car in a public place before, you’ll usually get a few odd glances from passers by, sometimes something more. There are many times when it simply doesn’t seem worth it to stop. Yet at other times, I still find the urge to do so, even if I have little else to add to the conversation regarding a car we’ve covered numerous times over the years.
In the case of this 1993 Mercedes-Benz 190E, there were several reasons why I did stop to get quick front- and rear-quarter view pictures. First and foremost, I was amazed at the car’s immaculate condition. Mercedes of this era are not all that uncommon sights, but they’re usually in rougher shape than this, often sporting at least a little surface rust. Second, not only is the W201 (colloquially referred to as the 190) one of my favorite Benz designs but this one is also in my favorite shade of color for cars of this era. Lastly, I had the opportunity to witness the owner getting out of it a few moments prior, which simply made me smile.
An older gentleman of the gentile Boston professor-type wearing a tweed blazer with suede elbow patches, he not only looked like a character that would be on screen, but a like he could have been the car’s original owner. Pulling the Carfax revealed he in fact was not its original owner, and it also revealed that this car spent the better part of its life in Florida, no doubt contributing to its lack of corrosion. In any event, sometimes a particular car can have powers beyond words. In this case I felt like I just had to get a few pictures of this 190E, and I’m glad I did so.
Photographed at the intersection of Clarendon and Boylston Streets in Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts – August 2019
If I remember correctly, Mercedes came out with a few uncharacteristically vibrant color combinations in about 1990 — around the time they introduced the plastic lower body cladding, which was always in a contrasting (and still vibrant) color.
Ever since that time, I’ve been on the fence about whether I like these colors on Mercedes or not. On one hand, I see them as being somewhat undignified and not as classy as Mercedes colors ought to be. But on the other hand, I sort of like them. These colors really alter the car’s appearance and countenance, especially since by ’93 the 190 was a rather old design. Colors like this really perked it up.
And somehow, it doesn’t seem as dated as most vivid colors seem a few decades later. So in retrospect, I like it.
It’s also interesting that this one has been debadged… nothing other than the 3-pointed star on the decklid. Maybe this was done to conceal the fact that it’s a 2.3 rather than the more desirable 2.6?
Yes, in 1992, Mercedes-Benz’s first ever special trim levels, Avantgarde was introduced for W201 as a prelude for the new trim levels to be introduced for W202, 1994 facelifted W124, and later.
190 E 2.3 Azzurro (blue)
190 E 1.8 Rosso (red)
190 D 2.5 Verde (green)
The seat upholstery was decked out in dazzling colour, a very bold move for conservative Mercedes-Benz.
190 E 2.E Azzurro interior shot
190 E 1.8 Rosso interior shot
190 D 2.5 Verde interior shot
The biggest thing about the color is the ONLY thing that places it in the ’90s. It could’ve done with a slightly more aggressive facelift with clear (except for amber reflectors) corner and all-red taillights free of the VERY dated ribs, and a new grille so that the very 1993 color on a very 1983 car wouldn’t look quite so “Earl Scheib”.
If it was ordered, it may have come from the factory without the badging. Individual customization is a big thing with the high-end German marques and I recall that it was possible to do that (and probably still is).
And it’s not vanity, either. Evidently, thieves in Germany will target the higher-end models and, thus, some owners specifically order their German cars come without the emblems.
1 of 700 2.3 made,special debadged,
I’ve heard that in Germany it’s bad manners to flaunt wealth. Jim, perhaps you could tell us if that’s true.
It is, sort of, or more that people are (or used to be) more reserved. What is generally not done is to one-up your “superiors”. My Grandfather had an Opel Kadett with a 1.6liter. Problem was his boss had the same car with a 1.2liter. Debadge the 1.6, problem solved.
By the way, really it’s bad manners everywhere to flaunt wealth, but a lot of people do have bad manners. 🙂 Wealth, taste, and manners often have little relationship with one another. And those that do flaunt their supposed wealth often really don’t have any…I’ll tuck my soapbox away for now, thanks for offering the forum! 🙂
That’s one of the nicer 190’s I’ve seen in some time, good find. Not sure if the color is completely original or if the cladding was ever the SAME color as the body, I thought on the greens it was a contrasting shade of green.
Either way, these are aging gracefully, They looked good in the 90’s then started looking a bit dated by the mid 00’s, and now are looking very good again (when in proper nick). The 190 may be the rare “lower-end” car that looks more and more upscale as time progresses.
One of these actually resides in my apartment complex! I’ve never seen it move, it has a layer of pollen on it and it has a flat tire. I was actually going to write it up one of these months but now I can’t!😂
You’ve learned the first lesson of Curbsiding – no matter how rare or unusual or one of a kind, if you sit on it and wait, someone else will beat you to the punch with a twin example of that same rare or unusual sighting!
Well at least mine is blue!
This is a 1993 limited edition 190 2.3E class. It was dbadged at the factory. 93 was the last production year for the 190 to celebrate this fact, Mercedes offered two limited editions The one above is the luxury edition it only came in the green. The other addition was a 2.6 l sport line model. This model had lowered suspension and stiffer springs. It only came in black with silver cladding and a special interior that featured faux carbon fiber and bucket seats with red piping
I forgot about that… but that explains the whole thing. And that’s why the cladding on this car appears to match (rather than contrast) the body color.
Ah, that explains it, thank you, I well remember the Sportline, that was right up my alley back then, I obviously glossed over the Luxury Edition at the time.
Vibrant colours were on the Mercedes colour palette from time to time. How about Dark Blue-Green from 1972? Depending on the shade, green is a refreshing change from the colours popular today on vehicles.
Look at mine
I am north of Boston and saw a mint 86′ 190e on Craigslist 2 years ago. The man was the 2nd owner and his uncle had it for 30 years and willed It to him. He didn’t want to sell it but his wife made him.
It has 85,000 miles and is in show condition.
While not a fast car..the ride equals the cars of today!
It’s a mayonnaise color..very cool!
That’s hellelfenbein, or light ivory. Or taxi beige.
This appears like a similar (or perhaps identical) color to one of Mercedes’ bizarre 1992 European-market 190 Avantgarde edition cars. These cars were made in three special colors — red (190E 1.8), blue (190E 2.3) and green (190D 2.5). All of the Avantgarde models had wild-looking interiors — below is the green one.
I have a German-language brochure of these cars that I’m looking at right now. Not being proficient in German, I can’t delve into many details about these cars, but with an interior picture like this, who needs words?
First time I recall seeing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) portrayed in car marketing. Clown costume-like interior.
Very nice! I remember in the very late 80s seeing a deep, dark green BMW which was the first new car I had seen that kind of rich, dark green in a long time. By 1994 those jade-ish dark greens were everywhere, in a bunch of variations.
I kind of yawned at these when they were new, preferring the older models that were in the process of going away. I have changed my mind.
Love the colour, debaging was popular will low level yuppies and BMWs as you could rebadge with over the counter upgrades to M badges on your base model 1.6, going the other way to hide a luxury model as a plain jane was done too I guess, but the dark green on that Benz looks great, my Xsara was dark emerald green and looked almost black in low light.