Mercedes-benz 500E 1991-1994

It took a well-trained eye to tell the Mercedes-benz 500E (W124 generation) apart from its cheaper, less powerful siblings doing taxi duty. It received a powertrain-specific front bumper, flared wheel arches and, of course, a model-name badge on its rear. Enthusiasts knew what they were seeing, but everyday motorists assumed it was an everyday E-class with blownout suspension. Pushing the front wheels out was necessary to fit the 322bhp 5.0-litre V8, but this made it too wide for the W124 production line, so it was built by frenemy Porsche, and rather slowly: each of the 10,479 examples took 18 days. It was good for 0-60mph in just 6.1sec. A 500E isn’t easy to find today, but examples are to be had from around £25,000.