Imagine having a budget for a modern supercar, around €700,000. Facing you is an unexpected choice between two Mercedes compact sedans. On one side, a 1980s 190E brought up to date by HWA and priced like a supercar. On the other, the same base in its original competition-homologated form, the Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. This face-off between the HWA restomod and the Evo II from the era is fuelling today’s market for collectible sports sedans.
Numbered 401 out of 502, this 190E 2.5-16 Evo II was first delivered to Japan. It was later imported to the United States, where it has resided for several years. Painted in Blue Black Metallic, it shows 58 735 km (about 36,500 miles) on the odometer and is in remarkable condition for a car so rare. In 2022, it had already been sold for $425,000 on the Bring a Trailer platform. Today, bids exceed $400,000, roughly €375,000, far from the price of a new HWA Evo.
With 58,735 km on the clock, a relatively high mileage for such an exclusive car, this Evo II appears in very good condition. The Blue Black Metallic paint seems well preserved, with no major scratches or visible dings on the body. The entire original aero kit is present, from the widened fenders to the front splitter and the dramatic rear wing. The interior blends cloth and vinyl, with seats surprisingly fresh for a sporty sedan over thirty years old. For a collector, each appearance of a Mercedes 190E Evo II on the market becomes a small event.
HWA Evo: the 190E restomod that’s pricier than the original
Across from this homologation sedan, the HWA Evo is a highly advanced restomod based on the 190E. HWA, the company founded by Hans Werner Aufrecht in Affalterbach, starts from a completely stripped W201 shell. Reinforced structure, aluminum chassis, carbon fiber bodywork, and widened track dramatically transform the little sedan. The original four-cylinder gives way to a 3.0-liter V6 bi-turbo M276. This engine develops about 444 hp in standard form and can approach 500 hp.
The HWA Evo will be produced in only 100 units. The announced price starts at €714,000 before taxes in Germany, or about $770,000 for the HWA restomod. Facing it, a Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo II like the example #401 is valued at $400,000, or about €375,000. Between the authenticity of a DTM-homologated Mercedes and the modernity of the restomod, each buyer will have to decide which 190E makes their heart race.
