*DUE TO THE DELAY IN NECESSARY PAPERWORK THIS LOT IS WITHDRAWN FROM THIS AUCTION BUT WILL BE OFFERED AT OUR JULY 16 TH WINDSOR AUCTION.

The W140 range was a series of flagship vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz.

The car premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1991.

The SE/SEL/SEC cars were renamed the S-Class, with alphanumerical designations inverted.

Development on the W140 began in 1981, originally set for an autumn 1989 release.

From 1982 to 1986 several designs were reviewed, until December 1986 when the final design was approved.

The W140 introduced innovations such as double-pane window glazing, power-assisted closing for doors and boot lid, electric windows which lowered back down upon encountering an obstruction and a heating system which, if desired, continued to emit warm air after the engine was turned off.

For details like this, the W140 is often known as the last Mercedes-Benz to be 'over-engineered'; a trait that was costing the company in product delays a...