Old School Sunday: Original Mercedes-Benz 500E Clocks 30 (Photos)

Well, we all know that the V-boot E-class made its debut in the 80s but it was not until 1990 that the V8 500E was born. It was the 1st true 8-cylinder E-class that launched the model to a series of class-leading V8s we all know and love. To celebrate the 500E 30 years anniversary, Mercedes-Benz gave a brief history of its one of a kind vehicle.

Unveiled at the 1990 Paris International Motor Show, the 500E was a W124-body mid-size sedan. It came fitted with the M119 5.0-litre V-8 from the R129-generation 500 SL. A twin-turbocharged racing version of this engine won the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Sauber-Mercedes C9 prototype. The initial 500E made 326hp and could do 0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds, according to Mercedes. Top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph. This performance figure was quite impressive at that time even by today’s standards.

• Read More: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Evolution From 1953 To 2020

While it set a precedent for future Mercedes-AMG sport sedans, the 500 E wasn’t developed by AMG. Mercedes brought in Porsche for development work and partnered with the firm on assembly. A complicated process that involved sending cars back and forth between Mercedes’ Sindelfingen factory and Porsche’s in nearby Zuffenhausen.

The 500 E/E 500 also spawned other V-8 W124 models. In 1991, Mercedes launched the 400 E (later E 420), which was less powerful (it made 279 hp) but ultimately sold in larger numbers, with 22,802 units shifted. The E 60 AMG arrived in 1993, with a 6.0-litre version of the M119 V-8 making 381 hp.

Mercedes-Benz replaced the 500E in 1995 when the new E-Class with the famous twin headlights was born. This latest model spurned the E420 and the much-improved E430 with a 4.3 V8. Notwithstanding, the classic 500E still lives on in the current E63 AMG which uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo that outputs 603hp.

• Also See: Mercedes-Benz V-Boot Is 35 Years Old (Photos)