YOU MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER...

Classics Monthly editor Simon Goldsworthy and Lancaster Insurance’s Car Clubs Manager Dave Youngs are allowed just one car each that they would recommend as a Mercedes W123 rival.

Simon Goldsworthy – Volvo 240

If you want a big saloon or estate to rival the W123 Mercedes, then Volvo’s 240 has to be a contender. Built from 1974-1993, it took the idea of form following function to its logical extreme and was bought largely by people who didn’t care a hoot about image, but who cared very much about durability, practicality and personal safety. I do realise that none of those attributes sound particularly sexy, but time does strange things to people’s perceptions and the boxy Swede gets more appealing with every year that passes. Many of them were worked to death, but others were lovingly cared for by long-term owners and these are the ones to seek out.

Dave Youngs – Audi 100

Since I am writing this over the Christmas period, I’ll be generous and give you two choices in one! That’s because the C2 and C3 generations of Audi 100 overlap the Mercedes W123 production – the C2 lasted from 19761982 and offered two and four- door saloons plus a five- door hatchback, the slightly more rounded and aerodynamic C3 (pictured) taking over in 1982 and lasting until 1991. The C3 still offered a big four- door saloon, but the hatchback was upgraded to an estate.

My pick would be the C3

– supremely comfortable, understated looks that never date, very reliable, lots of mid- range torque and an AWD option.