the breakdown Jerry Seinfeld’s former Mercedes-Benz 500 E (W124) sold for $320,000 (about €276,000) at Amelia Island. The high-performance sedan was developed in collaboration with Porsche and partly assembled at its plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Bought new by Seinfeld in 1992, the car has covered just 2,335 miles in 34 years. When you think of Jerry Seinfeld and cars, his legendary Porsche collection probably comes to mind—along with the multi-story garage he built in the middle of Manhattan to house it. But the American comedian also has a soft spot for "Porsche-adjacent" machinery. At the 2026 Amelia Island Auction, his former Mercedes-Benz 500E went under the hammer. The 500E has been a sought-after model for years. Garage 11 in Hamburg—well known to many from the popular podcast "zwoaus11"—recently sold a very nice example for €72,900. At the same time, the market for the Porsche-developed Mercedes has its share of questionable listings, with dubious sellers sometimes asking far more money for cars that aren’t exactly pristine. As far as we know, however, none have come close to the price paid for Seinfeld’s former 500 E. The car sold for an astonishing $320,000 at auction. The 'Porsche Mercedes' From Zuffenhausen Jerry Seinfeld's Mercedes-Benz 500E The car’s desirability isn’t just about its celebrity first owner. Enthusiasts know that the 500E (W124) is, in a sense, half Porsche. Because the V8 sedan’s wider body—complete with 2.2-inch flared front fenders—couldn’t be produced on the regular Mercedes production line in Sindelfingen, assembly took place at Porsche’s facility in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. In the so-called "Rössle" building—where highly advanced sports cars are built today—the understated high-performance sedan was finished largely by hand. That unusual Mercedes-Porsche collaboration, combined with the model’s durability and everyday usability, has made the 500E (and the later facelifted 500E) a highly coveted collector’s car. Near-New Condition After 34 Years The record price of roughly $320,000 becomes easier to understand when you look at the odometer. Seinfeld bought the car new in 1992 and kept it until 2016. During that time—and under the subsequent owner—it was barely driven. The car shows just 2,335 miles. Auction house Gooding & Company, working in cooperation with Christie’s, described the car’s condition as "near new." The classic Brilliant Silver Metallic paint and light gray leather interior look as though the car had just left Porsche’s Zuffenhausen facility. Under the restrained W124 bodywork (aside from the wider front fenders) sits the legendary M119 V8: Engine: 5.0-Liter 32-Valve V8 Output: 326 Horsepower (early version before it was later reduced to 320 hp) Torque: 354 Pound-Feet Transmission: Four-Speed Automatic Motor1's Take: Before the auction, the car was estimated to sell for between $176,000 to $228,000. That the hammer didn’t fall until well above $315,000 likely comes down to a combination of celebrity ownership and the car’s near-new condition. In today’s market, honest examples of the "wolf in sheep’s clothing" can still be found for around $50,000. But anyone seeking true mechanical—and especially cosmetic—perfection should expect to spend many thousands more to bring a car up to that level. Gallery: Mercedes 500 E (1990-1995) We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
