Petrolicious – Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 – Video
“When I was a kid, I was so into cars, I had Road & Track, Car & Driver, I had Autoweek, I had all that stuff,” says Del Necessary. Inevitably, those publications ended up at his mom’s house; “…one day she was like, ‘I’m not holding onto this stuff, come get it,’ and I thought, ‘What am I going to do with all this?’ so I got rid of all those magazines… but I kept all the ones on the 16-valve.”
A few years later, after a chance encounter with a classified ad, he was the proud owner of a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16. Its racing success and subtle engineering advancements are what appeal to Necessary and his wife. “I think it’s a beautiful car,” he says, “…my wife complains it’s a box.”
A lifelong car enthusiast, Necessary has a small stable of classics from around the world, and while the others are all overtly sporty cars, the 4-door 190E is subtly menacing with a factory-fitted aerodynamic body kit. Menacing? Despite having less than 170 horsepower, its 2.3-litre engine was reworked by the British engineering specialists Cosworth, and the entire package was more than enough to challenge the E30 BMW M3 in period.
“Sixteen valve [engines] were kind of peaky, you know, until it got up on the cam,” he says, “…but it definitely kicks in at about four grand, and comes alive.”
He returned it to stock once getting the car, and apart from its European “Evo” wheels, remains as true to original as Necessary was able to get it. Once its daily driver, now, it get exercised regularly—early morning drives through the mountains are what Necessary loves most.
SPECIFICATIONS: 1986-1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E 2.3-16 (U.S.-SPEC)
Engine 140.3 cu-in/2299cc DOHC I-4, Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection
Power and torque (SAE net) 167 hp @ 5800 rpm, 162 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm
Drivetrain 5-speed manual, RWD
Brakes front: vented disc, rear: disc
Suspension front: struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; rear: multilink, coil springs, self-leveling shocks, anti-roll bar
Dimensions L: 174.4 in, W: 67.2 in, H: 53.6 in
Weight 3030 lb
Performance 0-60 mph: 7.8 sec, quarter mile: 16.2 sec @ 87 mph, 60-0 mph: 136 ft (Road & Track, August 1986)
Price when new $37,820