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A transcendent AMG model heads to auction and seeks a hefty price
AMG Royalty
A Norman Rockwell original. A Babe Ruth-autographed baseball. A guitar played by Elvis Presley. Some things hold more significance than most care to imagine. This car is one of those pieces.
There are only 30 1988 Mercedes-AMG Hammers thought to have been produced in the world. Thirteen of those 30 were built for the North American market. Of those 13, five of them were coupes. Behold: one of those five coupes is now up for auction. With one week left until bidding ends, the Hammer has eclipsed the $300,000 mark.
The AMG Hammer carries a marvel of German automotive engineering: the M117 6-liter dual overhead cam 32-valve V8 mated to a 4-speed automatic with only 19,000 miles on the clock.
Images: The MB Market
Rarer Than An Uncooked Steak
Right now in the United States, the Mega Millions jackpot has eclipsed the $1 billion mark. According to the lottery, your odds of hitting that massive jackpot are more than 1 in 302 million. With this specimen being one of only five in the world, one would have to wonder if you are more likely to win the Mega Millions than to see this car in real life.
Ahead of its Time
It seems like automakers today love to offer a “blackout” or “midnight” edition of pretty much any one of their models. As you see your neighbor’s blacked-out Dodge Durango roll down your street, may you be reminded that it will simply never be as badass as the AMG Hammer.
Where chrome was standard on the E-Class of this era, the 6.0 AMG Hammer sports a blacked-out grille, helping to give it its signature, menacing look.
No Replacement For Displacement
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the impeccable craftsmanship inside the Hammer coupe. The AMG-modded, 6-liter German giant beneath the bonnet was a beast in and of itself. Power has certainly come a long way since 1988; this engine made 385 HP and 417 lb.-ft. of torque, numbers that are good by today’s standards, but awe-inspiring when it debuted.
Beauty In The Beast
A German interior is one that is understated and simple, a reputation that holds true to this day (have you sat in a VW lately?). The AMG Hammer was no exception. If this minimalistic (and C L E A N) grey cockpit doesn’t make you yearn for the days of 80s fonts on the dashboard and bright orange gauge needles, I don’t know what will.
Subtle Badging
Save for the fake AMG-badgers out there, the bright silver letters on the left (and sometimes right) side of the decklid of a Mercedes are instantly recognizable. But here on the 6.0 AMG Hammer, those three letters are very quietly embedded onto the rear of the boot. Perhaps this is the true flex rather than the standard badge?
Not-So-Subtle Wheels
Though being understated is a hallmark of German automotive engineering, sometimes what you need is an accessory to add some ‘pop.’ These AMG wheels look like they could have been removed off of a modern-day Mercedes-Maybach S 680. Even at 17 inches, they complete the Hammer’s ungodly beautiful silhouette and look mighty clean on top of the coupe’s Black Pearl Metallic paint.
>>Join the conversation about the AMG Hammer right here on MBWorld.org
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our How-to section in the forum.
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