1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E 2.3-16 COSWORTH

AU$ 75900

One of the quintessential 1980's Touring Cars, alongside the E30 M3 and the RS500 Sierra. Debuted on track in 1985 under the competent eye of Dany Snobeck, the 190E 2.3-16 was the bonkers boy-racer version of the humdrum 190E, which took the car market by storm from 1983.

The brilliant oversquared engine was a bored-out version of the 190E M102 base model engine, with a 16-vales light alloy head designed by Cosworth, which at the time was not as yet involved with the works Ford touring car program.

The road-going version is capable of 183 horsepower (really not a bad number in 1985) and can happily rev to 7100 before hitting the red line.

The 5-speed Getrag gearbox is one of the most noteworthy quirks of the 190E Cosworth, with its dogleg first gear, designed for a smoother and quicker action when the going gets hectic. Having second and third and then fourth and fifth in a straight line allows the driver to action quicker gear changes in both slow and fast road situations.

For the novices, worry not: despite James May's shenanigans on Top Gear, it is almost impossible to enage reverse by mistake. Also with minimal or no incline the car happily sets off in second gear, if needed.

This specific car was originally delivered in Singapore and made his wat to Australia approximately 30 years ago. The car has had the same owner for the last 23 years and had a complete engine rebuild from Mercedes racing engines specialist Laurie Ogle in Geelong a few years ago.

The car sits on a genuine set of 15-inches Zender Turbo Felge wheels shodded in almost-new Hankook tyres.

The rear shocks are brand new but not self-levelling. The original shocks and the self-levelling system will be provided with the car, making it really easy for the new owner to refurbish the shocks and re-install the pump.

The car also has brand new gear linkage bushes and was serviced in November 2025 by TTY Euro in Mordialloc.

The sunroof works perfectly and all electronics are in working order. The original exhaust tip was replaced sometime in the past with a more sonorous one (please enjoy the startup video).

The car comes with an official Mercedes-Benz document of authenticity.

A period-correct Becker Mexico radio will be installed in the vehicle and the original first aid kit is present and intact.