MERCEDES · MERCEDES 560 · Cars
MERCEDES 560 Rare
As of 2026 Q2, 578 MERCEDES 560s remain registered in the UK — a genuinely rare sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 612 in 2017 Q3 — only 94% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 34 cars. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 5 (0.9%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it. Tellingly, 76% are declared SORN — kept off the road in garages and barns rather than driven, the signature of a car being looked after rather than used up.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (578 in the latest data).
Rarer than 41% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
Trend
About the 560
The Mercedes-Benz W126 is a series of passenger cars made by Daimler-Benz AG. It was marketed as the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and manufactured in sedan/saloon (1979–1991) as well as coupé (1981–1990) models, succeeding the company's W116 range. Mercedes-Benz introduced the 2-door C126 coupé model, marketed as the SEC, in September 1981. This generation was the first S-Class to have separate chassis codes for standard and long wheelbases (W126 and V126) and for coupé (C126). Over its 12-year production (1979–1991), 818,072 sedans/saloons and 74,060 coupés were manufactured...
MERCEDES 560 — questions & answers
How many MERCEDES 560 are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q2, 578 MERCEDES 560 were still registered in the UK — 141 licensed and on the road, plus 437 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the MERCEDES 560 rare?
The MERCEDES 560 is rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (578), making it rarer than 41% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Is the MERCEDES 560 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of MERCEDES 560 on UK roads rose by 5 (0.9%).
What fuel do most MERCEDES 560 use?
Most MERCEDES 560 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered, with the rest split across diesel.
When did the MERCEDES 560 peak?
The MERCEDES 560 peaked at 612 registered in 2017 Q3, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.