• Only 502 Evolution IIs were ever built, making this Monaco car rare.
  • Mercedes developed the car specifically to homologate for DTM.
  • Chassis 283 was restored in Germany and refinished in Blue Black.

In an era when homologation specials were built to satisfy rulebooks as much as enthusiasts, few cars captured the moment quite like this one. There are just 502 examples of the iconic Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II ever made, and it’s the inspiration behind HWA’s wild $800,000 restomod. Given the rarity, it’s not often that an example hits the market, but in just a few days, one will be auctioned off in Monaco.

Read: Relive The Best Of The ’90s With An AMG-Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II DTM

The Evolution II in question is number 283 and was originally delivered new to Switzerland. Unlike some others, kept as garage queens, the original owner wasn’t worried about driving their car, and between 1990 and 2006, clocked up over 79,000 km (49,088 miles).

A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse

Lukas Magerl/RM Sotheby’s

Munich-based CarTech Knowledge restored the car between 2021 and 2023 and refinished the body in Blue Black Metallic. The team removed the engine and refreshed it with new injectors and a different radiator, and also overhauled the oil cooler and differential.

The performance sedan has barely been driven since and now shows 80,598 km (50,081 miles) on the odometer, which includes the original mileage from before the restoration. While that figure is high by Evolution II standards, RM Sotheby’s still expects it to sell for between $305,000 and $410,000.

A Race Car For The Road

A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse

Lukas Magerl/RM Sotheby’s

Mercedes built this ultimate version of the W201 to meet homologation requirements for the DTM championship. It features a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine co-developed by Cosworth that delivered 232 hp and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm), allowing it to rival the BMW E30 M3 Evolution II with its 220-hp 2.3-liter.

It’s a reminder that Mercedes once made a four-cylinder worth fighting over, long before AMG tried it again with the hybrid C63 and watched enthusiasts reject it so firmly the car is being buried after barely three years on sale.

In addition to the engine being upgraded, it was also equipped with adjustable suspension and an aggressive body kit with an adjustable rear wing, flared arches, and a pronounced splitter.

And yes, the wing still looks like it could double as a park bench. Mileage purists might wince, but this one’s actually lived a life. Go take a look at the listing over here and see if it speaks to you.

A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse
A Four-Cylinder Mercedes Worth Over $400,000 Makes The C63 Look Even Worse

Lukas Magerl/RM Sotheby’s