For sale: 1957 Hollywood Hardtop Hornet Hudson

C140 exterior badging:

• Model badges were fitted to the left top of the trunk lid, and there were three model designations throughout production, including:^​

- SEC

​Early models up to June 1993 were badged as the 500SEC or 600SEC, continuing that name from the previous generation C126 S Class coupe. The 420 was never badged as an SEC due to its later launch date.

- S

Mid generation models from June 1993 to June 1996 were badged S420, S500 and S600. 

- CL

Later vehicles from June 1996 until the end of production were badged CL420, CL500 and CL600.

• V12 models had a “V12” badge fitted at the base of the rear window pillar.
• All models had a large star emblem built into the centre of the front grille, and small round Mercedes Benz crest badge on the hood above the grille. A star emblem was also fitted on the centre top of the trunk above the number plate area.

C140 bumpers, flank panels and colour schemes:

• Bumpers and flank panels were made from a polyamide material (heavy duty plastic substitute).²
• The C140 was available in either single tone or two tone colour schemes up to June 1996, with single tone available thereafter.³ (ie. flank and bumper apron panels were a different colour to the main body above the apron line). After this date, only single colour schemes were available. Presumably, special order colour schemes may have been available at all times as an exception to this rule.⁴ For more details on the colour combinations available, please refer to the paint colour section of this guide.
• Up until May 1996, C140s in markets outside of the USA and Canada had a reversing sensor system that used metal rods that protruded from the rear corners of the car when reverse was engaged. Only rear sensors were fitted to these earlier cars. The USA / Canadian markets cars seem to have continued to receive the protruding rod system until some time later, possibly up to late 1996 or early 1997.⁵
• From June 1996 in markets outside of the USA and Canada, vehicles received a new parktronic system with the distance sensors built into both the front and rear bumpers. The USA and Canadian markets received the system from late 1996 / early 1997 (the precise timing needs more research). The later cars had six individual sensors on the front bumper, and four on the rear bumper, and also had distance indicator LED lights integrated into the dashboard and on a new rear centre overhead lamp (placed for ease of use in the line of sight of the rear view mirror). See the interior sections of this guide for further details.
• The lower front air dam vent also received a change in design when the sensor bumpers were fitted. The earlier cars had 3 horizontal slats running the length of the air dam, while the later vehicles had a single horizontal slat.
• Vehicles outside of the USA / Canada had a flat plastic bracket area fitted to the front centre of the bumper, providing a mounting position for the front number plate. Some USA vehicles (likely, in states where front plates are required), had a smaller version of the plastic bracket (shorter but deeper to suit the US plate design). However, the vast majority of US and Canadian cars were not fitted with a front number plate mounting area.⁶