• 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.