Mercedes-Benz Executive Coupé (C123) · Executive Coupé

C123

The elegant two-door on the W123 underpinnings.

Production
1976–1985
Built
99,884
Body
Coupé
Chassis
C123
Mercedes-Benz Executive Coupé (C123) (C123)

Long, low, and pillarless — the C123 coupé distilled everything admirers loved about the W123 into a two-door body that looked as good parked outside a Geneva hotel as it did crossing the Alps at night.

Mercedes-Benz added the C123 to the W123 range in 1977, sharing the sedan's overbuilt chassis, recirculating-ball steering, and indestructible inline-four and inline-six engines. The frameless side glass and absence of a B-pillar gave the CE — Coupé/Einspritzung — its distinctive profile; inside, the same vertical-speedometer dashboard and vault-like build quality made it the W123 for buyers who valued style as highly as substance.

Produced from 1977 to 1985, the C123 Coupé outlasted the W123 sedan by a model year and remains among the most sought-after variants of Mercedes-Benz's most beloved generation — a pillarless classic that has aged with exceptional grace.

C123 interior
Cabin details of the C123, as preserved in period photography.

Every model.

5 model designations across 1976–1985 — engines, chassis codes and production figures for the C123.

ModelloModel yearTelaioMotoreCambioTotale
300 CD1977–1981123.150617.912722.1187,502
300 CD Turbodiesel1981–1985123.153617.9528,007
230 C1976–1980123.043115.954722.11918,675
230 CE1980–1985123.243102.980722.12229,858
280 CE1976–1985123.053110.984722.11232,138

* Il dato di produzione pubblicato copre tutte le serie di quel modello; la fonte non lo scompone ulteriormente.

C123 side profile
Studio profile of the C123 — the proportions that defined this chassis.
C123 rear three-quarter view
Rear three-quarter view of the C123.

Engines.

The M102, M110, M115 and OM617 as fitted to the C123.

M110

Inline-6
  • 110.923 2.7 L · 2,746 cc

    156 PS

    115 kW · 154 hp a 5,500 giri/min

    223 N·m

    164 lb·ft a 4,000 giri/min

  • 110.984 2.7 L · 2,746 cc

    185 PS

    136 kW · 182 hp a 5,800 giri/min

    240 N·m

    177 lb·ft a 4,500 giri/min

OM617

Inline-5 diesel
  • 617.912 3.0 L · 3,005 cc

    78 PS

    58 kW · 77 hp a 4,400 giri/min

    156 N·m

    115 lb·ft a 2,400 giri/min

  • 617.952 3.0 L · 2,998 cc

    121 PS

    89 kW · 119 hp a 4,350 giri/min

    230 N·m

    170 lb·ft a 2,400 giri/min

M115

Inline-4
  • 115.954 2.3 L · 2,307 cc

    109 PS

    80 kW · 108 hp a 4,800 giri/min

    186 N·m

    137 lb·ft a 3,000 giri/min

M102

Inline-4
  • 102.980 2.3 L · 2,299 cc

    136 PS

    100 kW · 134 hp a 5,100 giri/min

    205 N·m

    151 lb·ft a 3,500 giri/min