To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVEEstimate:
$125,000 - $155,000
- Special-order Saphirschwarz over grey/anthracite leather
- Originally ordered by Mercedes-Benz's corporate account
- Fully converted to E60 specifications by AMG at
Affalterbach
- Hand-built 375-hp 6.0-liter M119 V-8 engine
- German-market delivery; resided in Japan from 1995-2020
Originally ordered under Mercedes-Benz's general-use company
vehicle account, this home-market W124 chassis began life as a 500
E Limited and was delivered on 24 February 1994. Complete with
special-ordered Saphirschwarz paintwork and AMG three-piece wheels,
this unique "post-facelift" chassis was converted to E60
specifications by AMG after its delivery to corporate headquarters,
but before export to Japan in April 1995.
Its creation occurred at an interesting point in AMG's history. The
Affalterbach-based performance engineering company had concluded a
cooperation with Mercedes-Benz in 1990, permitting its enhanced
offerings to be sold through the automaker's dealership channels,
yet AMG would remain independent until Daimler (then
DaimlerChrysler) purchased a controlling stake in 1999. It now
operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of the German luxury car
manufacturer. With the introduction of the dealer-available C36 AMG
sedan for the 1995 model year, the German tuner's days of de facto
autonomy ended.
This very late "pre-merger" chassis presently exhibits all the
proper equipment, stampings, and cosmetic details executed to a
high standard of work, that establish it as a bona fide AMG
creation, and a potent one at that. Using the series-standard
5.0-liter M119 V-8 engine, engineers in Affalterbach pushed out
displacement to 6.0-liters by adding a combined 14 mm to the bore
and stroke geometries. A set of four "hot" reprofiled camshafts,
lightweight alloy pistons, and more aggressive engine mappings
pushed the unit's maximum delivery to over 375 horsepower (381 PS),
recently verified by dynamometer testing. A revised exhaust system,
paired with a redesigned, AMG-branded intake assembly, allowed the
E60's greedier powerplant to breath more freely at speed.
The stock, yet stout, four-speed transmission was deemed adequate
for AMG's beefed-up purposes, though a retuned TCU map and
specially geared ratios were required to extend longevity and
maximize performance. Converted E60s received a chrome muffler unit
with dual square tips, and this chassis presently wears a
period-correct, cross-compatible unit labeled shared with the R129
SL roadster. A revised set of springs and upgraded brakes housed
inside a set of menacing, staggered three-piece "AERO III" 17-inch
OZ Racing wheels round out the E60's mechanical modifications.
Cosmetically, the standard E60 typically did not vary greatly from
the 500 Limited, though this example has been notably upgraded
inside and out by AMG. The unique Saphirschwarz aesthetic is
enriched by the proper aero kit. An extended suite of black leather
furnishes the door panel inserts and upper dash with
contrast-stitched detail; black-toned bird's eye maple trim adorns
the center console, which is emblazoned with a monochrome marque
logo. Of equal distinction is the steering wheel: A pair of
embossed AMG emblems located at five and seven o'clock supplement a
more prominent logo featured on the upholstered airbag unit; the
grain-matched trim substantiates that this wheel has been crafted
to exacting standards. Finally, the 300 km/h AMG-specific
speedometer completes the gauge cluster, hinging at this sedan's
exorbitant performance and top speed.
Imported from Japan by the consignor in April 2020, this E60 has
recently benefitted from a well-documented overhaul of its rear
differential and transmission. Additional service invoices from
Japan show over $30,000 USD of addressed line items in the past
decade alone. Now offered with a tool roll and a folder of Japanese
documentation dating back to 1995, this exceedingly rare
super-sedan presents an ideal opportunity to own a piece of lean,
mean, German steel from AMG's early years as an official partner of
Mercedes-Benz.To view this car and others currently consigned to
this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo20.
