It is wide. It is low. It is completely black, with dark windows and a black grill. The large shiny rims only underpin the somewhat mafia-like appearance the car has. The two discreet tailpipes with small AMG logos on them give further hints that you might not want to jump on this one. Maybe not against those sitting inside either…
The fact that the Mercedes also has the name “Hammer” suits the slightly intimidating car well and gives a further hint that it can be smart not to challenge. The bang can be ugly.
– The car is both a bit loud and discreet at the same time. You have to be a connoisseur to see and understand what this really is. Photo: thembmarket.com.
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AMG 6.0 Hammer Coupe
Okay, okay – what exactly is this, apart from an old Mercedes, you might be thinking?
Let’s take it from the beginning: Long before Mercedes set the record for production cars with the AMG GT Black Series around the famous North Loop of the Nürburgring, AMG was one of several independent tuning companies tinkering with Mercedes.
The most notorious creation from AMG at the time is probably this car. A Mercedes AMG 6.0 Hammer Coupe. Built on the coupe version of the E-Class, which is often referred to as the 124.
The car in these pictures is from 1988. From before the time when you could increase the effect with digital optimization. There were other things that mattered here. Quite comprehensive as well.
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– The AMG V8 engine is the heart of the raw AMG 6.0 Hammer Coupe. It all looks original, but from the factory a 3-liter inline-six was the biggest engine option. Photo: thembmarket.com.
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A real rawhide
The first thing AMG did was to flip out the 3-liter inline six that was in the car originally. They had a 5.5-liter V8 they’d rather squeeze down between the front fenders. But not before they had drilled it up to 6 litres. Then the entire sulamite of pistons, rods and crankshaft was carefully balanced. Before they rose above the cylinder heads. Here, the single-cam tops with two valves per cylinder were changed to two camshafts and four valves per cylinder, before the exhaust, air intake and fuel injection were fine-tuned to mix petrol and air according to a secret recipe.
It all resulted in 385 willing horsepower and 564 Nm of torque. It might not be so impressive today. Any mainstream Tesla Model 3 matches this now.
But 34 years ago this was gross. Really grouchy, even. The dream sports car Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera offered 234 horsepower. A Porsche 911 Turbo at 300. The latter was seen as completely wild. The AMG 6.0 Hammer Coupe had an additional 85 horsepower to boast.
If you haven’t heard of this car before, it’s not really surprising. It is estimated that something around 30 cars were built in total. Hence one on the station wagon version of the E-Class.
Also read: Classic cars sold for crazy prices
– Inside, the car also looks discreet and original. It has the “sink and string” of the equipment Merceeds could deliver at this time. Photo: thembmarket.com.
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Not cheap
13 found their way to North America – and the rest scattered to all winds, as they say. How many are found back now, more than 30 years later, no one knows. Probably not many.
This car, which is for sale, is one of those that first ended up in North America. It has since found its way to fashionable Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, California.
It is now being sold by the auction house The MB Market. It is apparently the very first time that an AMG Hammer car has ever been sold at auction. It is therefore uncertain what price the car can achieve.
– Considering its rarity, we would not be shocked to see it go for a hefty sum, says a spokesman for the auction house.
As of this writing, the highest bid is 320,000 dollars, or just over NOK 3.1 million, at today’s exchange rate. The car is over 20 years old, so there are no taxes, but VAT on the purchase amount is added.
Also read: Norwegian customers run away with half of the cars
Low mileage
The car is also very nice and in near new condition. It has traveled only 19,417 miles (31,250 kilometers) in these 34 years. The reason for the low mileage is that it has been stored for 15 years, before it was picked up again last year and given a full review.
The original AMG styling is in place and so are the AMG aero rims. Fortunately, no one has succumbed to the temptation to put on white indicators at the front, or newer rear lights. This car is so special that it deserves to be original, through and through.
AMG did not build its cars on economy versions. This is fully equipped. The gray leather interior, electric radio antenna, four electric windows and air conditioning, to name a few.
Do you still have a taste for the fluffy hairstyles of the 80s, suit jackets in pastel colors with shoulder pads, lace ties and bleached olive trousers – yes, then you have the car that matches all that sulamite here!
Also read: The old Golf costs almost a million kroner
Video: Here we drive a 15-year-old Mercedes dream.
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