Thursday 30th August 2012

Chris Harris video: Hammer time

Chris celebrates AMG's birthday with a run in the car that made its name: the Hammer

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Back in the late 80s, when BMW thought a 286hp 5 Series was pushing the boundaries of naughtiness, a company called AMG was converting W124 E-Class Mercedes and giving them 100hp more.

Chris gets acquainted with AMG's history

The car was sold either as a saloon, a coupe and even an estate: there was a choice of 5.6-litre or a 6.0-litre V8 versions of the M117 V8 with AMG's own four-valve heads. The latter offered 381hp at a time when a cooking 230E offered around 140hp.

It was so unlike anything else on sale that American journalists simply called it The Hammer, and the name stuck, because it's a very cool name.

Mercedes bought 51 per cent of AMG in 1999 and completed the purchase in 2005. Given the close rivalry with BMW M, it's amusing to note that both companies are celebrating birthdays this year, M its 40th, AMG its 45th.

This day was something of a celebration and general shindig, but a sniff of a Hammer (can you say that in polite company?) was enough to get myself and Neil there.

The Hammer gave M a very big headache

We only had 20 minutes in the car, but that was enough to confirm what I already feared: I now want one of these things rather badly. It's the perfect embodiment of that kind of well-ordered 80s German excess - a quality that I think now lives on perfectly in the current product range.

If anyone is ever on a a European jaunt, I'd recommend phoning ahead and visiting Affalterbach: it's a cracking little hub of motoring hedonism.

Enjoy the vid, and then can someone go to Bulgaria and buy this.

 

[tinkertaylor]

Excellent video. A dream car

[carinaman]

I remember Monkey having a C43 Estate long termer once.

[harveysowner]

I think I leaked a bit of sex wee. Who needs parking sensors, sat navs, run flats and the like. Just a big V8 and some subtle flared arch design work does it for me.

[TomJS]

Great video - shame you only got 20 minutes!

How does it compare to the competitors: Aston V8, Ferrari 412, Porsche 928, Jag XJS? I'd guess this is the most powerful of the bunch... is it more of a true 4 seater as well?

Let's not forget that 380 bhp back then was as much as a top of the line Ferrari Testarossa.

[gaz1234]

Very samey.. shame CH doesnt come up with the amusing sentences JC does.

[Fullmeister]

gaz1234 said:

Very samey.. shame CH doesnt come up with the amusing sentences JC does.

What the contrived Top Gear nonsense ?

[LotusOmega375D]

It seems to be relatively smooth and quiet which is how I remember V8 AMG Mercs to be. These days they've gone a bit brash and loud: if you hear a modern Black series car pass by nowadays it seems to be trying too hard to sound like an old American musclecar, rather than the cool gentleman's express of yesteryear.

[405dogvan]

That car is cooler than almost anything in production right now.

Given a choice between that and a brand-new E63 I'd have to think about it for a while - and then I'd probably take that anyway because it's about 1000% cooler...

and how much is it worth I wonder?

[stew-S160]

Shame it was such a short video, but once again, Chris delivers.

[George H]

Stunning!

What sort of money would you be looking at for one of those beasts nowadays?

[kiteless]

A short video, but a thoroughly enjoyed one.

Yet a little bit of me has died inside, knowing that I'll probably never see an AMG Hammer let alone drive or own one.

[s m]

Chris, have you been looking at your August 89 Fast Lane again?

[mastadriver]

wasn't this care based on E500 (hand built by Porsche) and had M119 V8 (rather than M117)? E60 AMG, or is this different model?

[BigTom85]

I think a definitive "Monkey's top 10 cars" video would be awesome.

After all the amazing Harris on Cars vids of late, I feel a bit short changed at under 6 mins!

[carinaman]

Not my cup of tea, I prefer Monkey's E28 M5.

[melvster]

Great video, would have been interested more in the AMG factory and museum, a few more clips of the previous cars built by AMG. I really fancy a C36/43 AMG after watching that.

[graemel]

mastadriver said:

wasn't this care based on E500 (hand built by Porsche) and had M119 V8 (rather than M117)? E60 AMG, or is this different model?

The time line was a little different and prior to the E500's. Initially using the M117 engine, the E500 used the M119. All great cars. I always thought the Hammer was the SEC model. I did not realise you could get that specification in the W124. All great cars and a great shame it felt such a short video.

[dufctubs]

Wow, a proper Merc !!

[tommy vercetti]

Love the AMG factory

[carinaman]

http://www.germancarforum.com/community/threads/hu...

These seem far classier and less obvious to me. Sixes can sound nice too.