Mercedes-Benz spent some eight years and £600 million developing its W201 saloon.

The result was a car that even its maker described as ‘massively over engineered’ and which revived the ‘190’ moniker.

Launched at the December 1982 Paris Salon, the newcomer offered a class leading ride / handling balance thanks to its patented rear five-link suspension (subsequently used on the marque’s E- and C-class models), front / rear anti-roll bars and anti-dive / anti-squat geometry.

Styled in-house by Bruno Sacco, the ‘baby Benz’ was handsome and aerodynamically efficient.

Initially powered by a 2-litre SOHC four-cylinder petrol engine in carburettor ‘190’ or fuel-injected ‘190E’ guises, the W201 could later be had with straight-six, Cosworth tuned DOHC and diesel motors.

Buyers could choose between manual or automatic transmission with airbags, seatbelt tensioners and ABS being standardised over time.

Hailing from the ‘bank vault’ era of Mercedes-Benz build quality, the 190 remained in pr...