By: Cameron Moore
Elliot Ullmann is a 20-year-old freshman Automotive Restoration student from Tampa, Florida. He has a deep appreciation for the retro styling of older European vehicles. While his dream car is a Ferrari Enzo, he has learned to admire the understated class and engineering of the Mercedes-Benz, an admiration that led him to purchase his very own 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E.
Ullmann’s 300E is built on the W124 chassis, a platform used in a wide variety of Mercedes models, including sedans, coupés, and wagons. Production of the W124 began in 1984 and the first North American models were finished in November of 1985. The sedan variant, like Ullmann’s car, remained in production until 1995. Production of all W124 variants officially ended in 1997, with over 2.5 million units produced globally.
The 300E was produced with several engines over its production run, but Ullmann’s particular model is powered by the M103 engine. The M103 is a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six that produces 178 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 4-speed automatic transmission. Mechanically, Ullmann’s car remains stock, though visually it stands out thanks to a Lorinser body kit and a set of BBS wheels, which blend subtle aggression with period-correct style.
“This car is very special to me. The first time I drove the car, I would say I was somewhat nervous,” Ullmann recalled, fondly thinking back to the memory of purchasing the car. “I found the car on Facebook Marketplace, not even 5 miles from the dealership it was originally sold at. I bought the car with 54,000 miles and it’s currently sitting at about 60,000.” When asked how his Mercedes compares to modern cars, Ullmann said, “The 300E is probably one of the most comfortable vehicles I’ve ever driven. There’s not a lot of technology like new cars to go wrong. It is very simple and easy to operate.” As for the car’s future, Ullmann has no plans to part with it anytime soon. “There’s really nothing I can think about that I would want to change about the car. It’s perfect for what it’s designed to do. I plan to keep this car for as long as I can because the car means a lot to me.”
For Ullmann, the 300E represents everything great about a classic Mercedes – a car built to last, to be driven, and to be appreciated for generations to come, as it’s a piece of history that’s become part of his own story, one mile at a time.
