In the early ‘90s, Mercedes-Benz wasn’t afraid to step outside its comfort zone. The result was the Avantgarde series, three striking, limited-edition W201 that looked more like expressions of personal style than traditional German sedans. Of the trio, the rarest was the Avantgarde Verde.
Released in 1993 alongside the Avantgarde Rosso and Avantgarde Azzurro, the Verde was the most elusive, with only around 750 examples produced. Painted in a vivid Yellow-Green Metallic (paint code 874), it made no attempt to blend in. Matching bumpers and mirror caps tied the look together, giving it a clean but head-turning presence that was radical for Mercedes at the time.
Step inside, and the commitment to the theme was absolute, green tweed-fabric seats, green carpets, and green dashboard accents. This wasn’t just an interior that matched the paint; it embraced it entirely. The Verde was a car for those who wanted to stand out, not fade into traffic.
Mechanically, it offered the same solid W201 underpinnings as its siblings, with buyers able to choose from engines and transmissions suited to their market and taste. But performance figures were never the Verde’s headline, it was about design, personality, and making a statement.
Like all Avantgarde models, the Verde rode slightly lower than a standard W201 and wore distinctive 15-inch Gullideckel alloy wheels, completing its unique look.
Today, an original Avantgarde Verde is an exceptionally rare find. With fewer than 1,000 ever built and far fewer surviving in unmodified form, spotting one is like catching a glimpse of automotive pop art, a green rebellion against the ordinary.
