For Sale at Auction: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. WDB1240361B933715

Mercedes had a simple goal in the 1990s for their W124 generation of E-Class; they wanted to prove to their Munich-based rival BMW - and the world - that the M5 was not the only halo sports sedan available from Germany. The Mercedes-Benz 500 E was borne from a fruitful, if not complex, collaboration with their Stuttgart neighbors, Porsche. Not only did Porsche assist in the engineering process, but the sports car maker was also critical to its production. Sporting a wider wheel track to accommodate wider tires, the newly flared arches made the car 2.2 inches too wide to fit down the standard W124 production line. So, they went between the Mercedes plant and Porsche's R�ssle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen - the very same plant that produced the Porsche 959 supercar - a total of four times, resulting in an incredible 18 day production process!

Already endowed with world-class capabilities from Mercedes and Porsche, this sporting pedigree could be further enhanced by another legendary German company - AMG. With a laundry list of possible upgrades available, the most sought-after examples are those with the mythical 6.0 monicker, just like this very car.

A copy of the original bill of sale dated 23 March 1993 shows this 500 E was finished in Black (040) over Black leather, retailing for just under 159,000 DM or the equivalent of just under $97,000. The car was then taken to Affalterbach, where AMG began their work. The main focus was upgrading the original 5.0-liter engine with an AMG-tuned 6.0-liter version by increasing the bore and stroke 100 by 94.8 mm. This increased the performance rating from 320 to 381 PS. Further supporting modifications included an AMG exhaust system, AMG sport suspension upgrades, a new 300 km/h speedometer, RECARO front seats, and lastly, 17-inch AMG Aero I wheels finished with body-colored centers and polished lips. The work performed by AMG is detailed on the accompanying order form, and nearly another 71,000 DM was added to the initial purchase price, pushing the total for this car to over $140,000 when it was new, which would be nearly $300,000 today.

In addition to the copy of the 1993 bill of sale, this 500 E 6.0 AMG is accompanied by an impressive amount of documentation, including its AMG order form, early German Fahrzeugbrief with certifications for the AMG upgrades, and subsequent service history. Imported to the United States in 2021, this splendid 500 E 6.0 AMG is surely one of the most highly documented pre-merger examples to have left Affalterbach on the market today.