This 1997 W210 Mercedes E-Class was once driven by Jerry Seinfeld. That was until the EPA caught wind of the German automaker’s ultra-modded and insane machinery that wasn’t even street-legal in America. So, he reportedly had to give it back, and Mercedes-Benz eventually sold it in Mexico. Now, it’s back in the US.
The EPA refused to let Mercedes sell this car!
This car started out in life as a Mercedes-Benz E 420, powered by a 4.2-liter V8 under the hood. When stock, the engine generated 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It took 6.7 seconds to drive from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph). That was still respectable, but Mercedes wanted to squeeze more from that car.
Straight off the assembly line, the German automaker sent it to Florida-based tuner RENNtech, founded by Hartmut Feyhl, former director of AMG North America. The car drove out of the tuning lab with $150,000 worth of modifications, all carried out with the approval of Mercedes-Benz, on top of the standard $60,000 price.
The model saw the light of day before Mercedes and AMG started building cars together as a result of their merger, so it basically got the best of… three worlds: Mercedes-Benz, AMG, and RENNtech.
The experts widened the wheel arches and came up with hand-hammered steel wide-body fenders to give the car a more imposing stance. They retuned the suspension and lowered the vehicle, installed a dual stainless steel RENNtech exhaust, put the “E 60” badge on the trunk lid, and sent it back to Mercedes.
Mercedes-Benz gave the E 60 to Jerry Seinfeld on a short-term loan
Once it was completed, the German automaker decided to give it to one of the world’s most famous comedians at the time. Widely known as a Porsche enthusiast, Jerry Seinfeld showed up in some commercials that advertised the then-new C-Class sedan and ML SUV.
Jerry Seinfeld was making about a million dollars per week back then. So, of course, the automaker wanted their image associated with the name of the comedy star. It seemed a match made in heaven.
Besides, it helped him keep a low profile in traffic. The looks of the model did not betray its capabilities. It was painted silver over a gray and blueberry leather interior with special walnut trim on the dashboard. It had a phone on board, a stereo protected by a plastic lid opening upwards, and a gazillion buttons and switches. Touchscreens that controlled everything were still lightyears away.
The Benz underwent a “heart transplant” that brought in a fully built naturally aspirated four-cam 6.0-liter V8 engine, which pumps out 420 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. Now, the E 60 only needs 4.6 seconds to rocket from zero to hero (0 to 60 mph). Sitting in the middle of the large, white gauge assembly, the speedometer is scaled up to 200 mph (322 kph).
The tuners also swapped the transmission, putting in a specially modded five-speed and a limited-slip differential. The 18-inch magnesium monoblocks replaced the stock wheels. The Benz could have very well competed against the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the era with no inferiority complex whatsoever.
Seinfeld drove a car that was not even street-legal in the US
With all the mods it carried, the E-Class wasn’t homologated in the US, so it couldn’t be driven in the US, no matter the name of the driver. The story goes that someone from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) once saw Jerry Seinfeld driving the E 60 and reported the situation. So, he had to give it back to Mercedes-Benz, and Mercedes-Benz eventually sold it to Mexico. Now, the car is back in America.
Car enthusiast and collector Ed Bolian takes it for a spin along a closed-down highway, driving in a convoy, with a police escort on his tail. So, he has to refrain from putting the V8 to the test. However, he admits it is a true performance Mercedes in terms of behavior and comfort.
He also has a track experience in the E 60. That is where he can push the almost 30-year-old car over its limits. The V8 under the hood growls its way through the corners and along the straights.
Registered in California, the E 60 is still not street-legal, but it can go out on a ‘show and display’ rule that allows the import of vehicles that hold historical or technological significance. And this Benz checks all the right boxes.
The law also allows vehicles to drive up to 2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers) per year. This explains the very low mileage: it has only driven 18,000 miles (28,968 kilometers) since 1997, which translates to an average of only 643 miles (1,035 kilometers) per year. Jerry Seinfeld reportedly traveled 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers) in it.
Residing in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, a subsidiary of MBUSA, the Mercedes-Benz E 60 RS now takes part in special driving events and car shows. The car was present at the 2025 Moda Classic, which took place in Coral Gables, Florida.
