'The new Mercedes coupés continue the tradition of putting a smooth and good-looking body on the engine and chassis of the existing saloon.

The 230 and 300 CE should be winners.' – Motor.

In late 1984 Mercedes-Benz updated its medium-sized passenger car line-up, introducing the new W124 bodyshell, which replaced the nine-year-old W123 style.

Improving aerodynamic efficiency as a means of reducing fuel consumption and thus lowering emissions had become a major preoccupation among motor manufacturers, and the W124's sleekly refined shape reflected these concerns.

Slightly longer but a whole 2" narrower than their predecessors, the W124s had a significantly reduced frontal area and coefficient of drag, which together with lighter weight made for appreciably better performance.

In the case of the Bosch fuel-injected, four-cylinder 230CE model, these advances made for a top speed of around 126mph (manual) or 123mph (automatic) and a 17% improvement in fuel consumption.

Fitted with a f...