If you want a classic made to travel at speed for extended periods, buying German makes sense. Here are our favourite Autobahn-ready classics
Autobahn is the German word for motorway, but in many other countries the word has become synonymous with speed. That’s because around half of the German motorway network is unrestricted, with no speed limit for cars. An advisory 130kph (81mph) limit is given but there’s no law to stop keen drivers seeing how fast their car will go.
As a result, German car manufacturers have developed something of a penchant for developing very fast cars that are at once comfortable and refined yet ferociously quick and highly stable at high speeds.
In our view there’s no better way to enjoy the modern incarnation of derestricted Autobahn than a classic (or modern classic) German car with a suitably large engine and comfy interior. Here are some of the best.
Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9
The most intimidating sight in the rear view mirror in the mid-to-late 70s would have been the wide nose of the then-new S Class in 450SEL 6.9 guise, introduced in 1975 and produced until 1981. Very few cars would be able to keep up with the big V8 limo; it could cover the Autobahn prerequisite 70-90mph range in a blistering 6.1 seconds. Saab would later need their 2.3 Turbo beat that time.
And today, while R129 SL values have climbed convincingly, the W116 series is lagging behind; it’s the 6.9 that is of most surprising value. Considering the some of the lofty prices its predecessor’s big V8 models catch, this 140mph Autobahn stormer is still relatively obtainable.
But with its film fame from 1998’s Ronin, plus rose-tinted nostalgia for pre-oil crisis decadence, the state of the market can only mean that the 450SEL 6.9’s time has come.
BMW 8 Series
The BMW 8 Series was long misunderstood and perceived as a bit of an ostentatious flagship: too big, too heavy and less practical than the 7 Series, which was available with the same engines for less money. However, recently they’ve been developing a cult following that’s been nurturing values. Relatively limited numbers, especially in the UK, have meant that the 8 Series has begun to seriously outpace the contemporary Mercedes-Benz SEC in the used market, and top CSi models are pushing big numbers.
All models can blast down the outside lane of the Autobahn at 155mph with impeccable stability. A technical tour-de-force for BMW at the time and still deeply impressive today, the 8 Series showcased dynamic stability control, a low drag coefficient of 0.29, and adaptive dampers under its sleek, pillarless bodyshell. Numbers registered on the road today are low, so now is the time to buy.
In the meantime, if you see those slender pop-up lights in your mirrors on the Autobahn, we advise getting out the way – it could be a delimited 186mph CSi.
Audi RS6
In the same way that the Porsche 911 Turbo and Nissan Skyline GT-R lit up the expressways of Japan, turbocharging changed the world of go-faster German Autobahn cruisers forever. One of the most brutal of this new breed was the Audi RS6. Values for the C5-generation car have firmed up in recent years but the 450bhp, twin-turbo V8, four-wheel-drive monster remains a performance bargain. A great example ready to take on a high-speed European road trip won’t set you back much more than £20,000.
The Audi RS6’s combination of quattro stability, turbocharged thrust and impressive braking performance (you can thank the outrageous eight-piston Brembo calipers for that) was a special recipe that’s been continued in more modern performance Audi models. Our advice is to pick up one that’s been cared for – maintenance bills can quickly overwhelm purchase prices, as is the way with so many older high-performance cars.
Mercedes S55 AMG
Further along the high-performance Mercedes-Benz limousine line, here in AMG flavour, is the W220 S55. In supercharged 493bhp form, it makes for a compelling high-speed Autobahn cruiser. Not only is there a vast quantity of torque (700Nm), and a top speed pushing towards 200mph if derestricted, but air suspension and adaptive cruise control add calm to the proceedings.
The good news is that these fast W220 offer big value for money. Despite there only being a couple hundred left, they linger for sale with price tags under £20,000 for great examples. There are good reasons for to expect appreciation, however: this was the first AMG S-Class available in right-hand-drive for the UK.
With W126 and W140 prices still on the rise, the W220’s value potential for now is in the desirable, iconic models – and the best condition examples. Like the 450SEL 6.9, there’s only one way now for the genre-defining S55 AMG.
Porsche 928
Born from Porsche’s desire to replace its then-10-year-old 911 with a more modern sports car, the Porsche 928 was powered by a sophisticated all-aluminium V8 engine and an iconic slippery shape thanks to folded-back headlights and a large hatchback rear-end. Arriving with 240bhp in its original 1977 form but increasing in engine size and performance over time, the 928 was a luxurious, high-speed cornerstone of the Porsche range (sitting alongside the 911 it was originally meant to replace) until 1995, by which point the ultimate GTS version had arrived with 350bhp from its 5.4-litre engine.
Performance was, and still is, effortless. Long gearing and lots of torque meant even the slowest 928 could reach over 140mph; that figure climbed to 168mph in the last-of-the-line GTS, which is more than enough for devouring large swathes of German motorway.
Prices today start at around £10,000 for a useable car, but the very best rapidly climb into the £20,000 to £30,000 bracket. A great S4 or GTS will set you back closer to £60,000, but that’s still good value in our eyes – there are few better cars for the job of covering long, high-speed motorway miles with ease.
