When was 126 production ended?
 

I know that the german producton of the 126 chassis was stopped in the '91 model year, but I read somewhere that in South Africa, maybe, that the 126 was built until 1997? :confused: , Or is it that i've been reading too many forums :rolleyes: .
Thanks, Dave.

When was 126 production ended?

Way too soon!!!:bigcry:

The production ended sometime around April of 1991 I believe for all markets expect South Africa. South Africa had a limited number (I believe around 100) built until around 1993-1994.

The 126 continued production until 1994 in South Africa because the 140 had not yet been prepared for that enviroment. Production of the 126 started in 1979 but was not sold in the American market. The 126 was the first production vehicle offered with airbags and the first vehicle in the world designed to survive an offset crash.

Ironically my 82 300SD was never produced in europe and I have had many double takes from some of my German friends who love the OM617 engine and wish they could get it in a 126.

Second week of May 1991. Straight from Mercedes.

John

For US only models. Worldwide production is different. The European market had been enjoying the 126 since 1979 several years before they started showing up here.

That was world wide. Second week of May 1991 ended all production in Germany. The South African modles made there were few and far between and only for there consuption.

John

Care to provide your source on that information? I find it hard to believe Mercedes would sell 3 year old cars as new model year cars even in South Africa. They may have retooled their main production line but those cars were assembled "somewhere".

Many car makers are able to produce two series cars in the same factory. My 1998 Volvo S70 was produced on the same line as the 1997 Volvo 850's.

I have never run across a W126 that was later than a 1991. I have seen a 420 that was registered as a 1992, but it was a very late 1991 plus a DMV screw up.


So for all practical purposes 1991 was the last year. MB has been building cars in South Africa for quite a while, its possible a few were made with parts that were sitting around for certain clients.

Well, I was curious about that. Figured that the few that were (if any) built in South Africa after 91 production stopped, had to be component cars (similar to the 76 Cadillac Sevilles that were built in Iran in 78 by GM) from leftovers. But it would be nice to have a 94 560SEL wouldn't it :) . Or for that matter a 2003 S600 140 Chassis :D .
Thanks, Dave.

Well they exist, one just needs to have the will to go to Africa and track one down. I would think that pretty much all of them were owned by dictators, and other super currupt government officials. Figure a large percentage were probably blown up for one reason or another, then add in normal wear and tear.:D

My source for the 126 production end date was MBUSA. My Car was made the second week of April 1991, Mercedes kept the last 560 Sec of the line. I was trying to find out how close to last mine was. But because Serial # for coupes and sedans ran sequential they couldn't tell me. They did say that with only 2138 made in 1991 it would be real close. In fact my car was not sold until July 1992.

John

MBUSA is the US distributor. The same people who will tell you the Audio 10 and APS 30 Satnav does not exist. The same people who kept cramming cassette players into S class cars until 2000 while the rest of world enjoyed in dash CD players and Nav units. The same people who probably don't know that the w126 really started production in 1979.

While extremely rare 94 model w126 sedans do exist. I have personally seen a 1992 model gray market w126 in the flesh.

Not all cars start and stop production at the same time in all places. The w220 was released in Europe earlier than here in the US and my 1999 w140 does not exist in any market except the USA. The same thing with 1979 and later w116 chassis cars.