Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Even after all these years which I’ve been involved with GCFSB, a car will come across sometimes which I had no idea existed. Such is the case with this 1986 300SL with an AMG tuned 3.2 liter inline-6. First off, the 300SL is rare on US shores, as we only got the 560SL in our market from 1986 through 1989. Secondly, someone went to the trouble of optioning an R107 with an AMG engine and not much more to denote its bump in horsepower. The ultimate sleeper, then? You decide…
When discussing rare cars of the recent past, something I often find myself doing with friends, one has to mention the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate. Quicker, more dynamic, and slightly sharper looking than the E55 that it replaced, the 2007 E63 is on many an automotive enthusiast’s bucket list, including my own. To have such great power on tap, in a relatively non-imposing package that is also very practical for day to day life, well it’s a drivers dream come true. The only problem is that Mercedes only saw fit to bestow 67 of them upon us in 2007, a fact that this seller, and many others surely relish. Since there is no direct competition for the car in the United States, and it was sold here in very limited quantities, Mercedes essentially guaranteed buyers of the E63 that their car would retain a decent amount of value. It’s not BMW 1M or Boxster Spyder levels of value retention, but for a big Merc wagon I’d say that the drop off hasn’t been nearly as bad as other W211 models. Only time will tell if it can hold on its current collector status once the glorious day arrives when we can import the C6 RS6 Avant, and E61 M5 Touring. Until 2032, we’re stuck with just the E63, and I don’t think anyone has any complaints about that. It’s a car that is laughably quick, and in spite of itself, a complete sleeper. Until you stomp on the gas and leave everyone around you wondering what just happened, the E63 AMG Estate is just another wagon roaming the streets looking for a Pinkberry.
There are two Mercedes-Benzes in the current lineup that really light my fire. That would be the evergreen G-Class and one of the newest arrivals, the AMG GT. This is a car that has taken the fight directly into the Porsche 911’s backyard, albeit in a different form. As has been noted by the folks over at flüssig magazine, this car bears a bit of a resemblance to the timeless Porsche 928, especially when you consider the sloping rear end and the way the bumper tapers inward towards the bottom edge. “It’s the 928’s successor,” states Andy McCulley, flüssig magazine contributor and 928 owner. I always wondered what would have come had Porsche followed up on its great GT car. Well, Mercedes-Benz grabbed the ring and ran with it.
I’m always a fan of the showdown posts; no surprise, since I think I’m the only one who does them here! While it’s nice to highlight one car at a time, I’m just a fan of the opportunity costs; considering what my money could go towards otherwise. Plus, though we see comparisons of new cars in magazines and online fora, it’s not often that we have comparos including nearly 40 year old cars. While I usually highlight this type of comparison in my 10K Friday posts, today is a bit different and I believe the first time I have a showdown on Tuner Tuesday. I’ve rounded up a quintet of neat cars that are all modified from stock by some of the most famous tuners of the 1980s; which is the winner?
It’s always nice when you come across low mileage classic Mercedes-Benzes, but when I read the sellers description as to why he was selling, all I could do was shake my head in disbelief and think “kids these days.” If I was just learning how to drive, I would be more than pleased to be handed the keys to something so durable and timeless as the first E-class. Having grown up with a W124, I can say without a doubt that a car like this could give a young driver an appreciation for motoring that newer cars simply couldn’t replicate. While some might say that an older car wouldn’t be safe for a new driver, a Mercedes-Benz like this was light years ahead of the competition in terms of safety and would be able to compete favorable with many modern day machines. With just over 50,000 miles on the odometer, this 300E for sale in Florida has a lot of life left in it.
