Description
One of only fourteen examples supplied in right hand drive to the UK market and probably the finest. It was supplied new to the famous Patrick Collection and features every available factory option bar one, including the rare and expensive hardtop option. It has covered 42, 000 miles, has a full and comprehensive service history and is in exceptional original condition in all respects.
This E36 was ordered new by the Midlands based Patrick Group for their own collection of contemporary and classic cars. Highly regarded, the collection featured a number of significant models from Ferrari 288 GTO through to a perfect delivery mileage Mini Metro. The E36 was supplied by Patrick Solihull, one of their own Mercedes dealerships. It was ordered to a very high specification, the invoice price totalling close to £90, 000 – making it the highest specification of any UK ordered E36 AMG Cabriolet.
Finished in Imperial Red with mushroom leather interior options included:
Outside temperature gauge
Right and left electric heated memory seats
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Wind deflector
Wood/ leather steering wheel and gearshift
Passenger airbag
Storage box in front tray
Orthopaedic driver’s seat
Cruise control
Electric steering column
ASR skid control
Radio MB Exquisit with traffic news RDS and CD Changer
Electric aerial
Air conditioner
Headlamp wash/ wipe
Sports chassis
Fire extinguisher
AMG Styling Package
AMG Wheels
Infra remote locking system
Weissman hardtop
The car was supplied and registered in January 1995 as noted in the original service book and in correspondence on file. It remained in the Patrick Collection in a devoted heated museum area until December 2004. It was exercised occasionally on dry days covering 9, 000 miles whilst always being maintained by Patrick Solihull, as per stamps in the service book.
In December 2004 The Patrick Collection was offered for sale as individual lots in a single vendor auction by Brooks (later to amalgamate into Bonhams) at Olympia, London. I remember the sale very well as I was the under bidder on this very car, losing out after some intense bidding to Mercedes supremo, John Haynes.
John Haynes fully inspected the E36 and serviced it as confirmed by the service stamp and invoices on file before it passed to a favoured customer. He retained the E36 until 2007, returning the car to John for maintenance as per schedule.
John Haynes offered the car for sale in 2007 as documented in the advert copies on file at which point it had covered 18, 000 miles. Once again it sold quickly to a new enthusiast who retained it until now. During this ownership the E36 continued to be used carefully in fine conditions, the mileage rising to 37, 000 miles. It was maintained perfectly as confirmed by service stamps and invoicing on file. The car was a much-admired exhibit in the official Mercedes Museum at Brooklands for much of this ownership.
In the summer of 2016 I received a phone call from the above-mentioned owner who was considering a sale of the E36. It was evident that he loved the car and I realised I would need to be patient. Finally, in November 2017, we stuck a deal and I travelled to London to collect the E36 that I had admired from afar since that auction thirteen years ago.
We sold the car very quickly to a discerning enthusiast who continued its history with perfect stewardship. He covered only 2, 500 summer miles in the car in his three and a half years of ownership and serviced it with no expense spared at a highly regarded Mercedes specialist.
We have repurchased the car in 2021 and again sold it quickly to the last owner, a fastidious collector with an eye for an exceptional car. He has covered a couple of thousand summer miles and has, like all previous owners, maintained it meticulously as detailed in invoicing on file amounting to in excess of £8, 000.
We have once again repurchased the car and a recent drive reminded me just how truly magnificent it is. The E36 model really is rather special, the big price tag when new seems justifiable having become acquainted with the car, it is quick, finely honed and bespoke in feel.
In superb original order with just 42, 000 miles recorded this special car comes with all books, tools, keys and a substantial history file with much correspondence, all MOT certificates, tax discs, ownership charges and service invoices.
