Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II 1990 Klaus Ludwig

Mercedes-Benz retained number 002 of the 500 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II built, assigning it to Klaus Ludwig, the three-time Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters champion, as his personal drive. Now offered at The Munich Auction on 20 November 2026, this 1990 homologation special remains one of the earliest examples produced and carries the weight of factory provenance that collectors of racing road cars pursue with quiet intensity.

A racing machine for the road

The Evolution II emerged from Mercedes-Benz's DTM programme, a racing specification rendered road legal. This particular example retains its matching-numbers 2.5-litre Cosworth engine and five-speed dog-leg gearbox, the engineering signatures of its competitive heritage. The car has covered just 45,833 kilometres across three and a half decades, a distance that speaks to careful stewardship and the kind of selective use reserved for machines that matter.

What distinguishes this lot beyond its early production number and low mileage is the constellation of documentation accompanying it. A letter from Ludwig himself confirms his ownership, while the factory Data Card, original order forms and complete Mercedes-Benz books and manuals provide the paper trail that transforms a used car into a collected artefact. For those familiar with the market for homologation specials, such provenance is not merely academic; it is the difference between a good example and one worth pursuing.

The significance of retention

That Mercedes-Benz retained this car when new rather than allowing it to pass immediately into private hands is itself revealing. It suggests the factory recognised its potential as a keeper, a representative of what they had achieved. Ludwig's appointment as its custodian added another layer: the DTM champion understood both the road car's lineage and its competitive credentials, and the letter bearing his signature serves as a bridge between factory intent and real-world use.

The 190 E Evolution II occupies a particular place in automotive history, representing the moment when homologation rules meant that road cars could genuinely connect to their racing counterparts. This car's combination of early production number, low mileage, complete documentation and direct ownership by a celebrated racing driver makes it an uncommon proposition for collectors seeking authenticity and racing pedigree in a single package.

RM Sotheby's will offer the car at The Munich Auction on 20 November 2026. Registration to bid is available through the auction house's website.

Key Facts

Production number: Number 002 of 500 built
Year: 1990
Engine: Matching-numbers 2.5-litre Cosworth
Gearbox: Five-speed dog-leg
Mileage: 45,833 kilometres
Sale: RM Sotheby's The Munich Auction, 20 November 2026

The Simply Luxury View

For collectors of homologation specials and Mercedes-Benz motorsport road cars, the convergence of early production number, documented factory retention, low mileage and direct ownership by a three-time DTM champion creates a rare provenance profile. This is not simply a survivor of the 500 built; it is one that was held back by the manufacturer and entrusted to an elite racing driver, lending it both factory credibility and competitive credibility.

The thoroughness of its documentation—factory Data Card, original order forms, marque manuals and Ludwig's own letter of ownership—reflects the kind of stewardship that transforms a machine into a collected object. In an era when racing homologation cars occupy a heightened position among collectors worldwide, the combination of these factors positions this car as a significant offering.

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