AMG supplies a full line of show-and-go components to followers of the 3-pointed star who seek to enhance the appearance, handling, and performance of their Mercs. The firm was founded in 1967 by Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, two former Daimler-Benz engineers, and its name comes from the initials of their last names and of Grossaspach, Aufrecht's birthplace. For those of you who don't know, AMG is to Mercedes what Alpina is to BMW, Ruf to Porsche, Treser to Audi. It's a selectively equipped 300E impeccably turned out by AMG, the German tuning firm specializing in those other stars from Stuttgart. Obviously, the Hammer is not exactly your mass-produced Merc. Zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds, top speed 180-plus mph, just like the Ferrari GTO or Testarossa without any sacrifice in comfort, room, or quietness. Alas, what the fellow didn't know was that this was no ordinary Benz but an AMG Hammer, the family sedan that doesn't just think it's an exotic it runs like one. But family 4-doors, even Mercedes? Never. Sedans aren't supposed to be able to do that. Imagine the truck driver's surprise when the Merc blasted by, then almost as quickly slotted itself into the queue as if it had been there all along. Shoot, he'd probably have to get on the binders and let that lunatic tuck in ahead of his big rig.
There was no way a sedan, even a Mercedes-Benz 300E, could get out, around and back into its the proper lane in that little space this short stretch of straight highway provided. When the red 4-door pulled out to pass his slow-moving tractor-trailer rig, the trucker shook his head. The following article comes word-for-word from the August 1987 issue of Road & Track.
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