AMG was founded in 1967 by a pair of former Mercedes engineers to serve Mercedes customers seeking a bit more pace. This effort was initially oriented toward motorsport, with the firm developing racing engines and a few years later, this had become whole cars, including the iconic 6.8 liter racing version of the 300 SEL 6.3 which finished second overall at the 1971 24 Hours touring car race at Spa. By the mid 70s, AMG’s focus had shifted to road cars, and they offered a host of cosmetic and performance upgrades for the full Mercedes line. These became increasingly outlandish in the 80s, including 5.0 liter Mercedes V8 (M117) swaps into the W123 E-Class and ultimately, one of their most iconic cars, the widebody version of the 126 generation S-Class coupe.
Based on the contemporary C126 pillarless coupe, AMG’s cosmetic package included widebody fenders and full aero kit including front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and trunk lid spoiler. Bright trim was color coded, and wider AMG wheels were fitted as well. A host of mechanical upgrades was also offered including suspension, brakes, and engine, the ultimate of which was a DOHC head upgrade for the Mercedes M117 V8, which ordinarily had SOHC. Fitted to both the W124 E-Class (the Hammer) and the C126 S-Class coupe, this engine made big power and brought a level of performance to ordinarily conservative Mercedes products which made supercar owners take notice. AMG had facilities in Germany, the United States, and Japan, and into these facility, ordinary Mercedes passenger cars would enter, and would emerge with anywhere from 50% to 400% more power and a completely transformed aesthetic.
This particular car was converted by AMG Japan and received the so-called “hybrid” engine as was typical for later AMG builds. Early quad cam 6.0 liter engines used DOHC heads made in house by AMG since Mercedes had none, but by 1989, the M119 had been introduced, which was a Mercedes-built DOHC 5.0 liter V8 initially used in the 500SL. Thus, the “hybrid” engine used the 6.0 liter bottom end of the original AMG engine, but with the more reliable Mercedes M119 DOHC heads. Also fitted in period is a remarkable Carat by Duchatelet in car entertainment system which includes front and rear center consoles, McIntosh head unit and amp, a VCR, and television.
This car remained in Japan until the current owner acquired it there and imported it to the United States in in 2022. It has since seen thorough sorting including a complete respray, refinished wood, and mechanical freshening. This included a rebuilt fuel distributor, new fuel injectors, fuel filter, EHA valve, oil pressure switch, cam oiler tubes and valve cover gaskets, timing chain tensioner and guide rails, overvoltage relay, coolant hoses, thermostat, and coolant temperature switches, spark plugs and connectors, and many new vacuum lines. The transmission was also serviced, the valve body replaced, and the shift bushings replaced. The front lower ball joints were also replaced, as was the left front wheel bearing, and new soft brake lines fitted, as were new brake pads and rotors at all four corners. The windscreen washer pump was also replaced.
Included with the car are service records since the car’s import to the United States including most of the work outlined above, as well as the tool roll with tools.
