With 1.8 million made, the Mercedes-Benz 190-series was ubiquitous. The Evolution models somewhat less so – there were only 502 of those made for homologation purposes. So what’s the automaker to do when fans want to see one in action?
Build a new one, of course! And that’s just what it did with the vehicle you see here. Mercedes-Benz Classic presumably started with a standard 190 as the base car, but brought it not just up to 2.5-16 Evolution II spec, but past that to Group A racing standards.
The automaker’s heritage division built it specifically for its trackday events, like the one set to take place next week at the Zolder circuit in Belgium, where fans will get to see it up close – and maybe even get a ride, something tells us, if they ask nicely.
Daimler’s counterpart to the original M3, the 190E 2.3-16 featured a 2.3-liter inline-four built by Cosworth with four-valve cylinder heads to give it 16 valves and 185 horsepower – but that was just the start. A later 2.5-liter version produced around 200 hp, and the Evolution models were even more hardcore, with the Evo II being the most extreme of all, what with its 235 PS and a body kit that included flared arches and a sizable rear wing that significantly improved aerodynamics.
Photo Gallery
