There are cars that are great, some that are special, and then there are those few that become legends. The 1986 Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer unequivocally belongs to the latter. It’s more than just a vehicle; it’s a myth, a benchmark against which other high-performance cars are often measured.
This isn’t merely a Mercedes-Benz that’s been souped up; it’s the very genesis of the Mercedes-Benz hot rod. Born in the exuberant mid-1980s, an era where automotive ambition was fueled by a sense of limitless possibility and a global race for speed, the AMG Hammer emerged as a statement of sheer automotive prowess.
From a small, specialized company nestled in a quiet German town, a truly exceptional car was conceived. The premise was straightforward yet revolutionary: take a sophisticated, mid-size sedan and implant within it an engine of truly monumental proportions. And thus, the legend of the 1986 AMG Hammer began.
The Autobahn Stormer: AMG’s Bold Statement
The 1980s in Germany were a hotbed for automotive customization. For those who witnessed the era, images of slant-nosed Porsche 911s adorned with picnic table-sized rear wings or Mercedes-Benz models boasting body-colored grilles and gold-plated fender extensions are likely to spring to mind. This was the prevailing aesthetic of the German autobahn – a statement of bold individuality.
However, AMG stood apart from the crowd. Founded in 1976 by former Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in Burgstall an der Murr, near Stuttgart, AMG’s core expertise lay in engines. Initially focusing on preparing Mercedes engines for the demanding world of touring car racing, AMG made its mark when its Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8, the V8-powered S-Class of its time, secured a remarkable 2nd place overall and 1st in class at the grueling 24-hour Spa-Francorchamps race. This iconic car, affectionately nicknamed “the Red Sow,” has been recently celebrated and re-created by AMG, a testament to its enduring legacy.
Like many German tuning houses, AMG catered to the trends of the 1970s, offering upgrades like Recaro seats, ATS wheels, and distinctive paint finishes. Yet, it was their racing-derived engine modifications that increasingly gained traction throughout the 1980s. The unveiling of the BMW M5 concept car in 1984, with its BMW M1 engine, served as a direct challenge, and AMG was ready to respond with force.
Crafting the Hammer: Performance Unleashed
Mirroring the approach of the BMW M5, AMG started with a midsize platform, the already impressive Mercedes-Benz 300E, priced at $39,000. For an additional $17,000, AMG would perform an engine transplant of epic proportions, replacing the stock engine with the 5.6-liter M117 V8 from the Mercedes 560 SEC. But AMG didn’t stop there. They then bolted on bespoke DOHC cylinder heads featuring four valves per cylinder, pushing the performance envelope from the original 177 horsepower to a staggering 355BHP.
Alt text: 1986 Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer front view, showcasing its understated yet powerful design.
For those seeking truly stratospheric performance, an additional $39,950 investment would unlock the full AMG Hammer potential. This included boring out the engine to a full 6.0 liters, blueprinting it for optimal performance, and pairing it with a meticulously re-valved four-speed transmission. A Torsen limited-slip differential, housed within the largest available rear differential, was added, along with a reinforced rear subframe to manage the immense torque. To complete the transformation, a comprehensive kit of exterior and interior trim pieces was installed. For the final flourish, a further $14,170 would secure the lower AMG suspension, featuring more aggressively tuned damping, and imposing 17-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance 215/45VR17 front and 235/45VR17 rear Pirelli P700 tires. Finally, an assembly fee of $18,000 brought the complete AMG Hammer package together.
The total cost for an AMG Hammer reached approximately $161,422. The majority were based on the four-door version of the W124 body, although the original prototype was reportedly a two-door coupe, and a wagon variant was even commissioned for a customer in Chicago. Estimates suggest that perhaps as many as 30 cars received some form of the Hammer transformation, each custom-ordered and unique. Even AMG itself acknowledges the difficulty in pinpointing the exact production total, adding to the mystique of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer.
The Quintessential 80s Aesthetic, Timeless Appeal
Back in 1986, the price of a single, fully-loaded AMG Hammer could have purchased you two Ferrari Testarossas. Yet, while the Ferraris offered exotic flair, they couldn’t match the Hammer‘s ability to transport four adults at blistering speeds. Ferrari claimed a top speed of around 180MPH for the Testarossa, but AMG’s official letterhead boldly stated “over 190MPH” for the Hammer.
More than just a piece of paper, we have the privilege of holding the keys to an actual AMG Hammer – AMG’s very own example. This sedan, boasting a 6.0-liter V8, looks as striking today as it did in 1986. In an era where many designs from the 1980s have become dated, the AMG Hammer retains a remarkably fresh and contemporary appeal. This enduring aesthetic is largely thanks to the timeless proportions of the W124, a design masterpiece conceived by Mercedes-Benz Design Director Bruno Sacco.
Alt text: Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer side view in motion, highlighting its aerodynamic profile and performance heritage.
The W124 is considered by many to be the last of the truly classic E-Class Mercedes, and the remarkably restrained AMG body kit, especially by the standards of the time, only enhances the car’s inherent elegance. In a decade defined by pastel sport coats and brick-sized mobile phones, the 1986 AMG Hammer stands out as remarkably understated. Its subtle lines give no hint of the ferocious power lurking beneath the surface.
Unleashing Power, the AMG Way
The AMG custodians of this legendary car understandably exude a sense of protectiveness. It has been brought out to celebrate the launch of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, England, now globally recognized as the home of Top Gear’s Power Laps. The weather, however, is far from ideal – a torrential downpour has left the pavement slick with water, hardly the optimal conditions for testing the limits of a car with vintage tires and a 6.0-liter V8 producing a claimed 396BHP.
Stepping inside, the interior feels surprisingly familiar, very much in line with any well-appointed W124. The presence of a tape cassette slot in the audio system and a cavernous ashtray in the center console serve as nostalgic reminders of a bygone era. The AMG-branded speedometer, with its needle reaching an optimistic 320KMH (199MPH), is one of the few visual cues that this is no ordinary E-Class.
As the weather momentarily clears, the AMG V8 roars to life with a turn of the ignition key. The engine note is surprisingly refined, more subdued than one might expect. In its day, the engine’s specifications were nothing short of sensational: 396BHP and 417 pound-feet of torque. Peak power arrives at 5,500RPM, while peak torque is delivered at 4,000RPM. This is a different kind of power delivery compared to the instant, low-end grunt of AMG’s modern, torque-rich 6.2-liter V8s.
Hammering Down the Road
While not explosively quick off the line by modern standards, the 1986 AMG Hammer‘s true performance prowess becomes evident once it’s moving. In its time, it was frequently cited as being capable of outrunning contemporary exotics like the Ferrari Testarossa and Lamborghini Countach in the crucial 60 to 120MPH range. Testing it on the runway confirms this reputation. Once underway, the power builds relentlessly, the V8 digging deep to propel the Hammer forward with unwavering force. This level of performance would feel at home in a contemporary super sedan, but contextualized to 1986, it was almost unbelievable, especially from a seemingly unassuming four-door sedan.
The four-speed automatic transmission cycles through its gears with seamless efficiency, the Hammer devouring runway length with each shift. Noise levels are surprisingly contained, with wind rush being the dominant sound at speed. The suspension, featuring electronically controlled dampers, is firm, yet the ride quality remains relatively compliant compared to modern performance sedans with their ultra-low-profile tires. The W124’s recirculating-ball steering requires a deliberate amount of effort, feeling slightly vague by today’s standards, a characteristic deliberately engineered by Mercedes to enhance high-speed stability on the autobahn in crosswind conditions. The brakes, however, betray the Hammer‘s age, exhibiting some grumbling after repeated high-speed runs.
We long for more time to explore the nuances of the AMG Hammer‘s dynamics, to push the limits of the vintage tires, but time is against us, and the weather is deteriorating.
The Original Mercedes-Benz Hot Rod Legacy
When the 1986 AMG Hammer first emerged from AMG’s workshops, it caused a ripple of excitement. But when it arrived in America, it became a full-blown sensation. European specialty cars had been largely absent from the US market for nearly a decade due to stringent air emissions regulations, but the Hammer arrived just as this drought was ending. When Hans Werner Aufrecht forged a distribution partnership with Andy Cohen of Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories, he could not have foreseen the AMG Hammer gracing the cover of virtually every prominent car magazine in America.
Mercedes-Benz themselves recognized the brilliance of the AMG Hammer concept, leading to the development of the Mercedes 500E in 1992. Like the Hammer, the 500E combined the W124 sedan with a V8, albeit the 322-hp 32-valve DOHC 5.0-liter V8 from the Mercedes-Benz 500 SL. Porsche played a significant role in the 500E’s production, handling engine preparation and installation, with each car requiring an 18-day round trip between the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant and an old Porsche facility in Zuffenhausen. Approximately 10,359 examples of the 500E, often dubbed the “four-door Porsche,” were produced over its three-year model run.
Despite the limited production numbers of the AMG Hammer, the model proved to be a resounding success for AMG. In 1990, AMG and Mercedes-Benz solidified their relationship with a distribution agreement, making AMG cars available through Mercedes-Benz dealerships. More significantly, AMG was commissioned to develop specialized performance models for Mercedes-Benz itself, starting with the E60 AMG, a derivative of the Mercedes-Benz 500E (of which only a handful were made), and subsequently the 1993 Mercedes-Benz C36. This trajectory ultimately led to AMG becoming the fully owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz that it is today.
Today, every major German car manufacturer offers some form of high-performance super sedan, and the idea of a 200MPH four-door car is almost commonplace. But even in this era of hyper-performance, they are all, in a sense, chasing the legacy of the 1986 AMG Hammer, the car that started it all and defined the genre.
