The Mallet: A Rare 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300 TE 6.0 AMG Up for Auction

Introduction

Before the era of high-performance wagons from Audi and BMW, AMG’s North American division was already working on creating its own powerful Mercedes wagons. One such model, known as “The Mallet,” is a unique development vehicle from 1988 that is now available for auction.

The Story Behind “The Mallet”

Richard Buxbaum, the founder of AMG North America, was tasked with building a V8 wagon in 1987 for a wealthy customer. The result was the Mercedes-Benz 300 TE 6.0 AMG, featuring a 6.0-liter engine with 32-valve cylinder heads producing 375 hp. The car gained fame as “The Hammer” due to its performance and innovative engineering.

Unique Modifications

Buxbaum further enhanced the car by adding rolled fenders, 16-inch AMG monoblock wheels, stainless steel exhaust, custom interior, and more. The vehicle also received upgrades such as a limited-slip differential from an S-Class sedan, custom anti-roll bars, and modified suspension to maintain optimal performance.

Legacy and Auction Details

Despite its impressive features and performance, the project never progressed beyond this one-off model. As a piece of AMG North America history, “The Mallet” is set to be auctioned at RM Sotheby’s Miami 2024 event in Coral Gables, Florida. It is estimated to fetch between $300,000 and $400,000 due to its rarity and significance in the automotive world.