Minichamps 1:43 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 24V Cabriolet

The Mercedes-Benz 124 series is a range of mid-size cars made by Daimler-Benz from 1984 to 1997. The internal chassis designation for saloon models is W 124, but Daimler-Benz also produced the 124 series in estate (S 124), coupé (C 124), cabriolet (A 124), limousine (V 124), rolling chassis (F 124), and long-wheelbase rolling chassis (VF 124) versions. From 1993, the 124 series was officially dubbed the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and it was the first Mercedes-Benz type to be officially referred to as such. The W 124 started replacing the 123 series from 1984 and was succeeded by the W 210 E-Class (saloons, estates, rolling chassis) after 1995, and the C 208 CLK-Class (coupés, and cabriolets) in 1997.

In North America, the W124 was launched in early November 1985 as a 1986 model and sold through the 1995 model year, through 7 November 1995.

Mercedes launched a cabriolet (convertible) version in Europe in 1991, the 300CE-24 cabriolet, and in the UK (RHD) and Japan (LHD). The 320CE, and North America, the 300CE, in 1992. These versions were redesignated as the E 320 in 1993, complemented by the less powerful, but less expensive E 220 in 1993, and the mainland-Europe-only E 200 in 1994. Mercedes brought the E 320 cabriolet (convertible) to the US and Japan from 1993 to 1995. There were 68 E 36 AMG cabriolets built from 1993 until 1996 (54 LHD and 14 RHD) to complement the also rare E 36 AMG coupé, saloon (RHD only), and estate. Approximately 171 estate cars were produced for the Japanese market. The pre-merger AMG coupés are based on the 124 series 2 update. The AMG 3.4 CE (300CE-24 based coupé) were all LHD, 25 were produced from 1988 until 1993. There were also 7 cabriolets built, and eleven saloons (and possibly estates). AMG Japan also carried out such conversions locally.

The E 320, E 220, and E 200 cabriolets ceased production in 1997. Indian assembly (in a joint-venture with Telco called Mercedes-Benz India) began in March 1995. Offered with five-cylinder diesel engines built by Mercedes' Indian partner Bajaj Tempo, the W124 was replaced there in December 1997.