Mercedes-Benz haven't gone to town with some form of weird nomenclature (looking at you, Audi!) but still before the literal class divide, the company's choice of compact wheels was the 190 line of cars. Internally (and to about a gazillion geeks around the world) known as the W201, it set foot in the space where the C-Class exists today. But unlike now, where the market expects a quick and cheap turnaround, things were a lot different in the 1970s. It took Merc nearly a decade to develop, refine, and launch the 201 with an investment of well over half a billion pounds.

What resulted was a car whose shelf-life spanned over a decade and about 1.9 million cars shifted in that duration.  Although the bigger achievement was that it could carve a smooth path for a new line of compact saloons — and other body styles — aptly, if a bit unimaginatively, called the C-Class.

What we have here is a Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.0 presented in a rather likeable state. It has just under 84,000 miles on the clock, six former keepers, and a valid MoT (till June next year). According to its seller — Werk-1 — the history file also includes previous receipts, some service history, the owner's manual, and the Sportline brochure.

Wait, what's a Sportline?

Sportline, as you must be aware, was Mercedes-Benz's way of kitting up its car a touch differently to appease the discerning enthusiast. A lower ride height, new badges and crucial model-specific steering wheel and gear knob, and four individual seats were some of the extras that anyone who'd ticked the 'Sportline' box would get. And lucky they must be, because the 190E, owing to its size and well-sorted suspension, was probably the most deserving of that badge.

The fuel-injected 2-litre four-cylinder engine mightn't be as celebrated as what was found under the bonnet of Cosworth-, AMG-, or even the Brabus-badged iterations of the W201, but it's a promising performer. What increases its chances of being used more regularly now is the fairly extensive work carried out on the car. Dan W-B, who's not only consigned the car but also has overseen some of the said work, mentions that the car has been treated to either OEM-spec or original replacements as mentioned below:

Front Discs & Pads (Brembo discs with Pagid pads)

Rear Discs & Pads (Brembo discs with Pagid pads)

Behr Radiator

Transmission cooler hoses x2 (Made in stainless as OEM hardlines are no longer available)

Front lower suspension arms (Sportline specific)

Front Bumpstops (Sportline specific)

Rear Bumpstops (Sportline specific)

All rear suspension arms/links replaced

Front Tie rod x1

Fuel pump relay

Cam cover gasket

Brake Master Cylinder

Throttle body cleaned

Engine idle adjusted and set correctly.

New Falken tyres x4

Suspension alignment

The other thing is that Werk-1 are pretty straightforward and transparent with what the car lacks. According to the seller's note, the bonnet, roof, and boot lid all have suffered fading to some extent — not major, though. The car's paint is largely original, too, and while the bodywork appears to be perfectly fine for the most part, there's some corrosion near the aerial base and the offside front wing. It's a UK-supplied car, ordered originally by a doctor in London and spent some of its early life in Belgravia, optioned with the full Sportline spec (option code: 950, according to Dan), and has undergone mechanical recommissioning.

The car is currently listed at £7995. If you're interested, you can contact Werk-1 through their socials or drop Dan W-B an email at the following: info at werk-1 dot com