1986 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL LORINSER, Former owner, Director John Frankenheimer

This 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL Lorinser was purchased by the seller two years ago and is now being offered for sale with 104,000 miles. The vehicle was originally ordered by John Frankenheimer, noted automotive enthusiast and director (Grand Prix, Ronin, BMW Shorts The Hire and Ambush), in 1986.

Mr. Frankenheimer specified this vehicle with the European-spec 5.5-liter V8 engine and the 4-speed 4G-Tronic automatic transmission. The M117 motor, a 2 valve-per-cylinder, overhead cam unit, was built in various displacements since 1971 and enjoyed racing success in the late 1980s powering the Sauber C8 and C9.

The engine was ordered with and still retains the rare factory Tri-Y headers and is rated at 300 HP.

This example completed production at Mercedes' Sindelfingen plant in September of 1986. It was immediately sent to the Lorinser workshop in Waiblingen to be fitted for their body kit (including trunk lid, side skirts, and front and rear bumpers), 5-spoke Lorinser RS 16-inch wheels, exhaust, lowering kit, and interior treatment.

The interior treatment included the addition of a refrigerator between the two rear SEC-style bucket seats and wood pull-out trays on the doors.

The vehicle was briefly featured in the February 1987 issue of Tuning Magazin in Germany sporting zollkennzeichen (German customs plates, issued for vehicles bound for export) before being picked up personally by Mr. Frankenheimer. It was used to vacation through Europe before shipping the car back to California, where it would spend the next 29 years of its life.

Records indicate the vehicle underwent regular service intervals and California inspections since at least 2000. The vehicle remained in the Frankenheimers' possession through 2010, when it was donated to the Petersen Auto Museum with approximately 103,000 miles on the odometer. The vehicle was owned by the Petersen for nearly six years, when it was auctioned at RM Sotheby's 2016 Santa Monica sale to the current owner, a Dallas resident and W126 collector.

Upon taking ownership, the seller performed a major service to bring the car back to a reliabile condition, while preserving the existing patina. The seller has a receipt for approximately $15,000 in services performed by Autoscope Foreign Car Care in Dallas, Texas, which include:
- new brake master cylinder, rotors, pads, and sensors
- replaced intake manifold gaskets
- replaced valve cover gaskets
- replaced fuel distributor
- replaced exhaust hangers
- replaced idler arm bushings
- replaced front tie rods
- replaced spark plugs
- replaced control arm bushings
- Freon flush and new A/C idler pulley

The car wears its original Anthrazitgrau paint (code 172) with some minor visible evidence of cracking. The interior, outfitted in Pebble leather (code 275A), is in good condition. Some of the Burl wood pieces show some signs of use and mild cracking