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With pristine examples becoming exceedingly rare and desirable, these Mercedes-Benz cars are already shooting up in value fast.

Mercedes-Benz has always enjoyed a reputation for quality, refinement, prestige, and reliability. Most performance Mercedes models aim to offer on-demand power helping enthusiasts enjoy the ultimate performance. Mercedes-Benz is one of the few companies that have managed to stay near the top for a long period.

Nowadays, the brand is easily recognizable thanks to its unique designs and its three-pointed star emblem. The brand's motorsport success and outstanding marketing strategies have helped Mercedes expand its customer base. Here are some Mercedes-Benz cars that have a great history and will soon be worth a fortune.

The CL600 remains one of the best sleeper coupes from Mercedes after the V8-powered CL500. Mercedes added a 5.8-liter 36-valve V12 engine producing 362 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The CL600 delivered this with remarkable smoothness thanks to the symmetrical three-plane crankshafts.

The punchy powerplant accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in only 5.7 seconds, a quarter mile in 14.2 seconds, and to an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. Mercedes also added a cylinder deactivation system where the left bank of cylinders would shut off to help offer better efficiency.

The 500E was an odd sedan. It was a performance version of the Mercedes’ W124 E Class sedan featuring a hand-built performance V8. The 500E was built in collaboration between Mercedes and Porsche in their then-idle 959 factory.

Everything about the 500E was unique, from the simple interior to the boxy loos to the primitive four-speed automatic gearbox. Unlike most cars, the 500E has aged well with its subtle yet aggressive design. Besides, it had a Porsche connection, making it a blast to drive. The 5000E got a powerful 5.0-liter V8 producing 326 hp.

Related: Why The Mercedes-Benz 500E Is The World's Most Perfect Sedan

On launch, the 190E was one of the best budget Mercedes models on the market. It was the company's first move into the subcompact market that BMW 3 Series mostly dominated. Even as a budget Mercedes, the 190E offered the same prestige, quality, reliability, and refinement.

The 190E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 were hugely successful sedans, quickly becoming milestones in Mercedes' history. The best feature of the 190E was the engine built in collaboration with Cosworth Technology. These models used powerful inline-four engines with 16-valve cylinder heads with mechanical valve filters.

You will surely enjoy breathtaking performance whenever you see the letters AMG on a Mercedes model. The CLS63 AMG is no exception. It’s a high-horsepower four-door Mercedes coupe. The CLS63 offers stylish lines with enough room for four.

Under the hood is a 5.5-liter Biturbo V8 producing 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The CLS63 gets a 7-speed automatic, adaptive sport suspension, and all-wheel drive (4Matic) as standard. These features help make the CLS63 unique and better than most of its competition, including the RS7 and the BMW M6.

Related: 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Introduced in 1998, the SLK was Mercedes’ answer to the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3. It was a premium small roadster with its unique feature: the retractable hardtop roof. The roof offers more security and a quieter ride than the soft top options of its competition.

The 2006 SLK55 AMG introduced a dramatic new design inspired by Mercedes’ Formula One race cars. It was eye-catching like the original, slightly larger, and more powerful than the predecessor. This gave the SL55 AMG a fun-to-drive character thanks to the 5.4-liter V8 producing 355 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque.

Even though the CLK63 AMG got a soft generic look, the Black Series got a hint of the brand’s CLK DTM race car. It got a prominent rear diffuser, front apron, extroverted exhaust tailpipes, and 19-inch forged alloy wheels. These changes helped make the Black Series scream high performance from every angle.

The CLK63 Black Series also got a rumbling 6.2-liter V8 producing 507 hp and 465 lb-t of torque. On startup, the CLK63 had a deep snarl that would quickly settle to a basso profundo grumble. The CLK also improved the chassis and body structure, helping offer more ride height adjustments.

Related: These Are Our Favorite Features Of The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

In the late 90s, Mercedes decided to add a 302 hp 4.3-liter V8 into the engine bat of the little C Class sedan. The result was a sensational performance sedan that was in production for three years. The w202 C43 was one of the best sleeper sedans on the market, with a 0 to 60 mph time of less than 6 seconds.

Besides the V8 powerplant, the C43 got some additional go-fast goodies like a shift auto manual transmission from the SL500, a two-stage resonance intake manifold, and performance-tuned gear ratios. The interior also improved, with multi-adjustable sports seats with pneumatic bolstering.

Not only does the A45 S have AMG in its name, but also under the hood. The AMG touch adds superior performance with the optional ride control suspension. AMG kits out the A45 S with adaptive damping to offer a balance between a sporty and comfortable setup.

The A45 S is one of the most powerful hot hatches in production. Mercedes introduced it in 2013, but the latest model uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine capable of a 3.9 seconds 0 to 62 mph time and a top speed of 168 mph.

Related: Why We Love The 2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

In many ways, the S Class represents the best of the best when looking for a large luxury sedan. AMG offers high-performance variants of the S Class, with the S65 being the best you can get. It packs more horsepower than all S Class models and features a host of upgrades, including adaptive sport suspension and beefier brakes.

The S65 is available only as a sedan and offers a palatial cabin with an endless selection of convenient amenities and tech. It also provides performance that blends thrilling athleticism with silky refinement. Even if the S65 costs more than its rival models, it will keep appreciating thanks to the powerful 6.0-liter Biturbo V12 engine under the hood.

Brian is a husband, father and freelance writer. He's also a tech and automotive junkie passionate about cars and motorcycles. Brian is also an F1 fan - team Mercedes (LH). When he's not writing, Brian goes for impromptu drives and walks.