With 1.8 million made, the Mercedes-Benz 190-series
was ubiquitous. The Evolution models somewhat less so – there were only 502 of
those made for homologation purposes.
Mercedes-Benz Classic presumably started
with a standard 190 as the base car, but brought it not just up to 2.5-16
Evolution II spec, but past that to Group A racing standards.
The automaker's heritage division built it
specifically for its trackday events, like the one set to take place next week
at the Zolder circuit in Belgium, where fans will get to see it up close – and
maybe even get a ride, something tells us, if they ask nicely.
Daimler's counterpart to the original M3, the 190E
2.3-16 featured a 2.3-liter inline-four built by Cosworth with four-valve
cylinder heads to give it 16 valves and 185 horsepower – but that was just the
start. A later 2.5-liter version produced around 200 hp, and the Evolution
models were even more hardcore, with the Evo II being the most extreme of all,
what with its 235 PS and a body kit that included flared arches and a sizable
rear wing that significantly improved aerodynamics.
