Highlights 

• Unique example of the Cosworth-powered 190E
• Originally commissioned for Greek royal family
• Unusual blue leather upholstery
• Magazine-featured

The Appeal

 
Mention Cosworth in the context of a 1980s sports saloon and most people will think of Ford, but there was another manufacturer that was heavily involved in motor sport at the time and which also played heavily on the British tuning company’s engine building experience.

That company was Mercedes-Benz, which produced Cosworth-powered versions of its 190E compact executive car for homologation purposes. The 190E 2.3-16 – and latterly the 2.5-16 – are spoken of in hushed tones today. Genuine collectors’ cars, steeped in race-derived history and eagerly sought-after.

This one is more special than most. It’s an early 2.5, dating from 1989, and was originally commissioned as a special order by King Constantine of Greece to use in the UK, who decreed that it must be painted in his favourite colour: Nautical Blue. It’s a shade that wasn’t offered on the Cosworth-engined cars, apart from this one – most likely because the original owner had friends in high places.

Freshly recommissioned, with almost £10,000 spent at a Mercedes-Benz specialist earlier this year, the 190 is the perfect addition to a Mercedes or Eighties icons collection.
 

History and Paperwork

• UK V5C 
• MOT May 2025
• Cherished registration included, B2 KOG
  • Vendor advises the plate means 'Belonged to King of Greece'
• Magazine featured in November 2009 issue of Mercedes Enthusiast
• Invoices dating back to the 1990s
• Laminated service receipts showing major works carried out in the 2000s
• Recent receipt for almost £10,000 spent with Mercedes specialist for recommissioning work
• Stored for many years in a private collection and has covered only 1,000 miles in past 15 years
• Original brochures and advertisements
• Service book stamped to 102,650 miles in 2000
• Autowatch alarm system

The Condition

• Original Nautical Blue paintwork
• Some minor age-related imperfections, but presents well overall
• Original factory alloys
• Rare blue leather upholstery
• 4 new leather upholstered door cards
• Steel tilt and slide sunroof
• Cruise control
• Air conditioning
• Smart and original all over
• Vendor advises that the alarm system is not functional

The 190E is mostly original on top and while there are a few minor imperfections as you’d expect on a 35-year-old car, it’s still in pretty smart condition with no major flaws and no signs of dents or accident damage.

It’s also now sound underneath, having received recent underside welding carried out as part of the recommissioning process. It’s a good, solid and extremely smart-looking car, which wears the subtle 2.5-16 body kit well.

Inside, the seats are trimmed in blue leather and present very smartly as well, although again there are signs of minor age-related imperfections such as a kittle bit of rubbing on the driver’s side seat bolster, some slight fading on the dash and a small patch of discolouration on the  gear lever surround. It has smart Mercedes-Benz factory floor mats, an electric sunroof, cruise control and air conditioning.

In the boot, the original Mercedes-Benz tool roll is present and correct.
 

The Mechanics

• 2.5-litre Cosworth normally aspirated 16v
• 173bhp
• Optional automatic transmission
• Recent service at Mercedes-Benz specialist at the time of major recommissioning work

Under the bonnet, you’ll find a masterpiece of engineering, as well as the reason why the 2.5-16 is such a collectable machine. The unit is based on Mercedes-Benz’s M102 over-square four-pot, but tuned by the British motorsport company to develop 201bhp.
 
This one has the option of automatic transmission, fit for a King no less, and has had some major work in recent times to return it to decent working condition. According to the vendor, it runs very well indeed, with no known or apparent faults.

BEFORE YOU BUY