Driving Nigel Mansell's Mercedes 560 SEC

[@rwg2626]

What I love about old cars is big windows and loads of light coming in

[@patdaveydrums]

Those A-pillars are like wire coat hangers

[@Tom_Selleck308]

Thank you, I thought I was almost alone in appreciating this aspect.

[@Shiggiesmalls02]

That's why people drive SUVs due to the size of A, B, and C pillars for safety in a so for example a Mk1 Golf has much smaller pillars than the current Mk8 golf so the Mk8 has a much darker and claustrophobic feeling interior compared to the Mk1 golf so to have the same amount of light level and The feeling of a bigger cabin You would buy the VW T-Roc, which is based on the Golf platform, at least that's my theory on it using just one car company as an example.

[@mikeygti8930]

Bit of trivia, I live in Mr Mansells sisters old house. Hes probably took a dump on my bog!🤭😂😂

[@pigknickers2975]

you pray!

[@21stcenturyozman20]

@ 10:18 - *B* is for (engine) Braking - downhill towing for example. It restrains the car to second gear; also allows it to start in first (from < 5 km/h).

[@anderslaugeprip3733]

B is for Bergen=mountains and it is for the downhill driving as here explained.

[@toby9055]

Or ‘Bremsen’ = Braking

[@shadychrisuk]

@@toby9055 Thanks for explaining - I had just commented above that the B was probably cos this is a L\H drive car and probably related to the German equivalent of L for low as marked on UK cars.

[@charliechetwood2358]

Gearbox talk. It always pulls away in 2nd unless you slide it down to B and back to D. The E mode gets rid of kickdown so you only get partial kickdown I believe. I have a 1988 560 SEC in smoke silver the same colour scheme, although I think that car looks a bit goldy to be smoke silver? Great video

[@HGSuper]

Laughing within 26 seconds. Thanks guys. Cheered me up.

[@mikeperth8027]

Each of Nigel Mansell's eyebrows are the same scale as his moustache!!!! I'm NOT kidding!!!

[@stuffthings3728]

I'm willing to bet 10 pounds sterling that your 100% correct

[@desertwindauh]

Never knew about Brian Sewell, what a fascinating character. Thank you for the revelation.

[@dr.leftfield9566]

Worked for MB 1987-99. Model for model they were the best high end motor car manufacturer in the world. The reason is because they were magnificently over engineered. The only real scare we received was BMW's E38 which is in the top ten for sure. For reasons that are tinged with a little sadness they are now a completely different animal.

[@tw2210]

Thanks for your videos - always good fun. Take care chaps.

[@macpdm]

What a beautiful & elegant car even now. So much want

[@PowerslideSWE]

Excellent 26 minutes of content guys. I can vouch that these indeed do 150 mph, a mates dad, a well heeled real estate developer had 2 of these, both Nautic blue? with oxblood interior when they were new, one 1989 and one 1990 model. My mate, with a fresh licence at 18 years old drove them like he had stolen them, pegged the speedo atleast once a day.

[@GreatCarStories]

They don’t make 18 year olds like they used to. I’m of that era and take nephews and the like out for a run and they display zero interest. They probably just quietly wonder why I’m in a hurry 🤔.

[@tomhorst7614]

A key feature of this model is the pillarless window, such a joy to drive with the windows down. Fun Fact; When Roadhouse was produced they bought two 560 SECs, One was distroyed the other was purchased by Swayze which he drove for the rest of his days.

[@jep1912]

Excuse me while I socially distance myself for the 26 minutes.

[@tedium37]

This was such a quality time in Mercedes history. When comfort and reliability were more important than lap times. Its proper. I'd have it.

[@compu85]

Not only are no body panels shared between the C126 and W126, the sunroof panel is different, and all the glass is different too! I own a W126, and once lost my wallet in the door pocket. I put it in the door pocket when cleaning the car, and as you said, the pocket is very long and tall... I couldn't see it in there and only found it months later when the sun hit the door just right. That car actually has the anti-squat rear suspension - compare it to the 6 cylinder sedans and the difference is quite dramatic.

[@Vespastendert]

My november 85 pre facelift 380SEC had normal steel rear arms without the anti squat. Could never work out what cars had it and which didnt

[@R-Tap]

I'm 47, I'm starting to really love the SEC

[@mikebennett850]

I imported a number of 126 coupes and sedans into Canada from Japan in the mid-2000s. These cars were not built to a price. The 140 that followed were built the same way but were hideous to look at. Then came the Lexus LS. You chaps should review an LS of the period through today's eyes as well. Love the vids Cheers.

[@izzy031096]

Love my old Mercs, but my 95 LS400 really does it for me, it really was years ahead of its time!

[@AlienLivesMatter]

@@izzy031096 Gameboy dash. Better having nothing in an era where we all carry computers in our pockets

[@CCGR-2024]

You two are a riot in that car, it makes me miss the 80’s, if only just for the cars! Well done, Cheers!

[@keithlivingstone2525]

I remember reading an Autocar interview way back in 1981 with 1980 F1 champion Alan Jones were he was speccing up a new 500SEL. So cool.

[@gaycha6589]

I have a car washing business in late 80s. One of my customers had a 560SEL. It was a lovely car to clean, given its build and materials quality, but also a fab car to drive (I used to pick it up and redeliver) And No, I never caned it - I just enjoyed the waft and (then) huge torque of that engine. Literally built like a bank vault. I'd love one today - if I could afford to run it

[@ollianddelphine]

Those cars are epic. Effortless driving with immense power. So cool to drive. They were made to old school Mercedes standards without the plastic nonsense of today.

[@sl1oo]

absolutely love this era benz

[@stiannobelisto573]

After watching Brian Sewell drive it all over Europe, it so fascinating to see it in all the details

[@MrGaryjames1]

blimey last time i saw that was back in 2014 at wimbledon race track brian loved banger racing and would come to every banger race there.he was a real enthusiast and came and talked to all the drivers and mechanics it was so bizzare.

[@stephenswift8001]

I think Brian Sewell had a column in one of newspapers writing about cars, he knew his stuff.

[@dyslexiksteve2488]

I love the sec. The clicky steering wheel ring brings back loads of memories. However I'm still managing to block out the timing chain, valve guides and valve seals. I would love one of these

[@dparv11]

Great seeing another show filmed around my area. You could have popped in to see Stella McCartney

[@rollingtroll]

Interesting, the first car that I remember 'rearing up' is the Audi 100 from 1987. I think we had a 2.3, front wheel drive, still did that somehow. I love how the Mercedes interiors are always sort fo the same. Nothing flashy, just solidly made. Makes you feel like whether you had an S-Class or a 190E, you'd have a quality product. You pay extra for speed and sound dampening and gimmicks, but not for quality.

[@McLarenInternational]

Sadly that's no longer the case. MB seems to be just as in to electronic frippery as everyone else these days, more so even. And their cars aren't reliable any more. We ditched our GLC 43 after a year as it had so much wrong with it.

[@crazeeplaya]

You guys were driving just north of Evesham and through Norton, weren't you?

[@johncoyle3223]

bloody marvelous.... mansewell...

[@Hargan]

Liking the step up in quality here, better interior camera and more external shots. Not gone unnoticed!

[@damieg82]

4:00 somehow I don't think continental driving was the only reason Mansell requested a left-hand drive car. The 560 models (SEL, SEC, SL) were built specifically for the US market, as an answer to the strict emissions laws which meant the 5 litre engines (500 series cars) were choked and starved into confirming, and thus only provided lacklustre performance. The 5.6 brought power back up to acceptable levels, and then some; they ended up being the most brisk ones. Lots of Europeans, and I feel Mansell as well, tried to get their hands on the rare US spec cars, which naturally were left-hand drive only.

[@nlzaaf]

And didn’t Nigel Mansell go to Florida to live there and play golf?

[@gaycha6589]

560 SEL/C were available in RHD and with more power than US variants

[@muddyboots1881]

Audi Coupé is exactly what I was thinking! Nice set o' wheels the SEC!

[@keabot]

Never will cars be made this good again

[@jamesboldyrew7537]

Grew up with the 1989 model. What a car It was the cutting edge of cars. 2500 rpm at 160kmh. The tech was beyond all cars at the time. Memories!

[@lucianopavarotti2843]

This superb car was Brian Sewell's co-star in his tv series Naked Pilgrim (driving through France and Spain) and Grand Tour (Italy).

[@Dan_druft]

I did a driving job in 2008 and had to deliver to Mansell Racing Dunkerswell aerodrome in Devon and I knocked on the door and Nigel took the package, he was a really nice bloke.

[@TheCabrooster11]

I remember trying to race a SEC 500 back in the mid eighties with my dad’s Saab 99 Ems and being astounded by two things, firstly the way the Merc launched and pulled three car lengths before I’d got into second and also as you said how much it’s nose lifted, actually thought it was going to wheelie

[@stringer-ik1pc]

5 litre v8 against a 2 litre 4. Might have had something to do with it.?? 🤔

[@rwg2626]

Yep I visited Mansell’s house regularly in jersey for my job

[@freemanscott78]

I used to feed him at pizza express In st Brelade ..

[@geraldperkins7119]

@@freemanscott78 0l

[@stringer-ik1pc]

Window cleaner.?? 😃

[@crazyfroggie6546]

lovely old thing. Straight over to Car and classic to see a few

[@cheif10thumbs]

My father had one of these in Saudi Arabia. It was also Gold/Tan interior. The side mirrors were all the way out on the fenders. Very comfortable and ARCTIC AC in it.

[@davespooney8472]

Walking down Leeds city centre as a young lad in the 80’s there was this brand new 560SEC in bright red with the full 80’s AMG kit and those awful but probably stupidly expensive wheels (like a weird inset 5 spoke) Absolutely blew my tiny little mind. WOW

[@benllewelyn98]

I was on the Isle of Man a couple of years back and bumped in to mansell in a spar store his g wagon was outside with the plate man 5el

[@Auto_Funk]

I had one of these owned by James "the shunt" Hunt once! It sold at auction a couple of years back for not a lot of money... Awesome cars :)

[@newsnowireland4028]

What a car. Bruno Sacco was the greatest car designer ever.

[@Trendyflute]

11:10 wow "Town and Country Horn" is the most-70s (or 30s?) sounding car feature ever...even though this car was from the 80s.

[@juliekeating4802]

I watched Roadhouse for the first time at Xmas. I don't know where I was when it came out!!

[@RobbieHerrera]

I wanted a 560SEC when I was young but by the time I could afford one I couldn’t find a decent example. The W215 CL500 I ended up with has been a wonderful consolation. I’ve always liked large coupes.

[@johanstam4188]

This film about this car would be utterly incomplete without the satisfying crunch of gravel at 23.15

[@dlpgamer]

Oh nice! I have an 1991 560 SEC also, but in black and palomino interior. God I miss to drive my car, but restrictions now with all the coronavirus going on don't allow me 😪😓

[@RedC220]

I owned one of these for a few years. They say never drive your heros, but this was everything that I expected it to be. My word did it rust though.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Lads. That’s was great chat, I loved it.

[@yoyocrackatow1234]

Was the Big merc in Roadhouse not a kind of silvery blue? (Pre aerial acrobatical explosion)

[@oldietolfree1632]

lovely cars, i have to make do with a c124 which is a great car as well. Excellent video,, thanks.

[@PhineasPhlob]

I'm down with SEC

[@saintfunny]

I'm sorry, & maybe it's the lock down, but, that car is glorious.

[@readventurekids]

Beautiful car! I remember being 16 in '96 and landing at the old airport in Hong Kong getting picked up in an S-Class saloon of this vintage by a man of illegitimate business, smoking a long cigarette in a cigarette holder and being transported to a Thai restaurant in a rainstorm with a red Countach LP5000S (with wing) parked outside, and thinking ... bugger me, I need to live here.

[@rickydisco7384]

I had an aging Audi coupe and it is still my favourite, cracking exhaust note. Mine was the classic sage green metallic. My step dad has a version of this merc too, great show boys, thanks.

[@AnttiBrax]

Motor racing's Nigel Mansell? You mean there's a possibility for an artistic swimming's Nigel Mansell too?

[@JamesCairney]

His swan dive was superlative!

[@taxus750]

An infinite universe features infinite number of Nigel Mansells.

[@djgingecoldwell10]

Where have they recorded this, I love the location and the chat also.

[@foremanmachine]

Worcestershire

[@jasperdemann5936]

Abbots Morton

[@EVILDUDE1928]

Starts in evesham

[@T16MGJ]

Mansell was/is a true British hero. His struggle and sacrifices to get into F1 and how hard he worked to achieve was beyond admirable. The only driver I ever saw who was clearly respected by Senna ... on the track! Unless news of the all too frequent Fake variety, Senna accused Mansell of being a tad "mental" on track. Yeah .. pot kettle etc. I cannot remember any other driver so highly "praised" by the Brasilian. "Our Nige" turned up at one of the British GPs in a humble MG Montego Turbo. Tru-Brit class at all levels.

[@johnlratcliffe]

I had a 500 for a long time when they were peanuts and a 560 for a while that was a bit disappointing to be honest. Is there any mention of how astonishingly expensive they were new?

[@johnlratcliffe]

£63-£70k in 1989!

[@richardmatthews6325]

Is the Vale of Evesham one of your favourite jaunts?

[@UnderTheRadars]

Brigel Mansewel

[@highlandmalt6368]

Lot of design features also seen in Bentley Continental R - 2 horn choice, seating for 4 adults; large rear ashtray; 4 speed auto with winter setting; rears up and squats under acceleration.

[@Tom_Selleck308]

Top stuff chaps!

[@paulcfyeung]

My neighbour had a late version 1989 560 SEC with factory BBS wheels, i nearly wet myself in excitement when the son (same age as me) showed me how the rear windows would come down! It just didnt seem possible to me at the time!

[@trabali5168]

bobby brown, "Dont be cruel" and "every little step" references this car!

[@tonypp.7093]

I remember this car from Bryan Sewell's Grand Tour TV show. It featured a lot.

[@WheelchairWonders]

E Type Jag was the first car I saw sink into the tarmac upon heavy acceleration (Phil - Standish)

[@marcjudge680]

My grandfather's neighbor had a v12 e type which he had taken me out for a spin. Yes I remember that front rising like we was on a boat on a Crest of a wave. Derek the owner of the e type also a a metallic blue Aston v8 vantage. Sounded absolutely fabulous. It felt faster,but not as much drama. I was 17 at that time, now 52...and still remember as if it was yesterday. Don't think the electric cars will be remembered as in the same way. Only by performance, but not the sound and smell.

[@DarthTrotter]

So much love for the W126.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

C126

[@martynclarke5167]

Started watching, but I've saved this to my 'Insomnia' playlist. Christ almighty.

[@eggeggeggegg]

No side indicators but Euro-spec headlights?

[@knott4me561]

E is same as w.and does set off in second ....b is 1st gear so you can hold it in first if needed .....

[@knott4me561]

It does slow the gearbox changes down but does nothing to the throttle

[@Br1anuk]

Very good, really enjoyed that. As a young man reading Autocar was a 560SEC faster than the same age 911?

[@SnakeyUk08]

Richards most recumbent video ever lol

[@johnbarlow1234]

the mec 560 models were sold for us only wern't they ?

[@jarthurs]

"I can't get a signal because we're in the sticks". You're not in the sticks, you're in the Lenches. That's full on Nimbyshire, no aerials, no wind turbines, not in *our* back yard.

[@simonfeagan8184]

Just sold my w124 coupe already regretting it maybe a sec should replace it

[@andyscott3099]

I owned both a 500 SE and a 500 SEL, W126. I still think that the 500 SE was one of the best looking Mercedes ever made.

[@jryalls]

I think the correct name for that paint colour is Jewish Racing Gold.

[@gpstenholm23]

That's Racist!!!!

[@jryalls]

Glenn Stenholm Why?

[@HGSuper]

Wtf ! do you think that is appropriate in the 21st century?

[@jryalls]

Andrew HG What are you on about?

[@Mattconroymedia]

Podcast?

[@readventurekids]

You can't fathom how many of these cars were in Hong Kong in the 90's. Almost literally every 10th car you saw if you include the saloon too. Utterly mental.

[@ChocolateFrog]

Did Sewell mean between the two rear seats?. I.e it's a massive car and you can't get 3 people in the back.

[@StewartP45]

Benz UK didn't appear to think it was silver either when they registered it as it shows as Bronze on the DVLA records. Surprisingly low mileage- approx 44k at last MOT.

[@desmo750f1]

Road House is on Netflix. Did Sniff forget his watch?

[@sofa-lofa4241]

I knew something was missing... Only 50% of the usual gratuitous watch shots

[@mosca3289]

The car features in Brian Sewell’s Grand Tour (yes before the three stooges used that title) TV doco series.

[@chedhead3278]

Cheers chaps, a most pleasant cruise, very relaxing. Candidate for an EV conversion?

[@drawwithdan5821]

Nigel Mansewell, brilliant :)

[@mickles1975]

Mercedes has a history of "doing things their own way" when it comes to colours. My Grandad had a burnt orange W115 when I was a kid that Mercedes called English red.

[@AkaAndyKnuckles]

I liked your comment mostly for your user name.

[@mickles1975]

Thanks.

[@stringer-ik1pc]

Especially during WW2.

[@petesbeats4829]

It's not Smoke Silver 702, this is Champagne 473. [Anorak Mode off]

[@SpencerF6]

Most autos pull away in second, surely? Always loved these.

[@shadychrisuk]

Yup the SEC pulls away in 2nd regardless of wether it's in E or S mode. E stands for Economy (lol) and contrary to popular belief S stands for standard and NOT sport. The only way to get an SEC off the line in 1st is to manually move the shifter into 1st - on this car marked as B, which I guess is German for low as its a L\H drive car. Pretty sure mine had the letter L. There was an aftermarket electronic kit developed (American?) that would reconfigure the trans to start off the line in 1st regardless of where the shift lever was.

[@martinburke3755]

@@shadychrisuk Also, there was W/S (Winter/Summer) it was/is equivalent to E/S (Economy/Standard), Winter/Economy wouldn't be so jumpy on ice. Pulling off in 2nd yes but there is a hack that there is a box under the dash that if you connect a wire differently it will pull off in first, I have the link saved somewhere but it's so unnecessary. I have a "Swayze", on my youtube account, Nautical blue exterior Navy interior, I have a few bits Carat Duchatelet on mine, just out of the shed for better weather. Other day I swapped an injector, that was the tap on my engine. 7 more in the post :)

[@keabot]

Put your foot to the floor it will pull away in 1st trust me

[@ruk2023--]

Citroen BX was like a plane taking off in terms of squat angle.

[@Car1750]

James Hunt had the 6.9 L 450sel

[@garycat]

Kelly Lynch was the archetypal 80's blonde in Roadhouse

[@lfo414]

...sigh.

[@McLarenInternational]

I read that as Kenny Lynch at first, and thought "he's not blonde"...

[@theglaudots1081]

Great seeing you on the roads I cut my teeth on - out in the sticks. You could go for many a 'commited' mile and not see another car for miles.

[@SmallBlogV8]

They're a bit steeper than 15, on Car & Classic at least. More like £20-40k. Gonna have to have up a bit more before living out my newfound Brigel Mansewell fantasies...

[@pauljackson6593]

Old money?

[@philrenwick5737]

Near zero road noise. Lovely!

[@stringer-ik1pc]

Rusting at every mile.

[@boogboog8097]

Grill should have come fitted with the Mansell Tache