LOT 568
1996 Mercedes-Benz E50 AMG VIN. WDB2100721A165937
Sold for US$20,700 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 568
1996 Mercedes-Benz E50 AMG
AMG Rediscovered | Online: Part 2 Automobilia from the Estate of Barry Taylor|29 July 2024, 17:57 PDT|Online, Los Angeles
1996 Mercedes-Benz E50 AMG
VIN. WDB2100721A165937
VIN. WDB2100721A165937
4,973cc DOHC M119 V8 Engine
Bosch Electronic Fuel Injection
342bhp at 5,750rpm
5-Speed Automatic Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*An exceedingly rare 'post-merger' AMG/Mercedes
*Potent 5-liter M119 V8 engine
*One of just 2,960 E50s produced
*The successor to the 500E, developed by AMG
*Shows 52,108 kilometers at time of cataloguing
*Requires recommissioning
THE MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E50
After Mercedes-Benz established itself in the 'supersaloon' market with the formidable 500E, the time had come to replace the 'Brute in a Suit' V8 sedan as production of the W124 platform wound down. Unusually, Mercedes had turned to its neighbors at Porsche to develop and build the 500E, but with its recent merger with AMG, they finally had a performance division at their disposal. Early in the official AMG/Mercedes relationship, the pair began work on a 500E replacement based on the new W210 platform. Again, mating V8 power in the mid-sized chassis, AMG shoehorned the 5-liter M119.980 32-valve V8 under the bonnet, and paired it with a suitably updated gearbox, brakes, and chassis.
Intended for the European market only, the E50 AMG was built in relatively small numbers, just 2,950 from 1996 through mid-1997. The E50 AMG is a relatively unknown specimen in the USA, and many examples found their way to Japan when new – a market known for it's voracious appetite for AMG cars. American audiences had to wait until late 1997 to get the revised E55 AMG. But for the E50, the V8 was tweaked to produce 342 brake horsepower and 354 lb/ft of torque, affording a 6.2 second sprint to 60 mph, and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph, all while cossetting occupants in a luxurious leather-trimmed cabin. While the W210's styling was polarizing for some, the E50 AMG was indeed a worthy successor to the 500E.
THE CAR OFFERED
This 1996 E50 AMG was delivered new in Germany to the Leipzig Branch and is believed to be one of just a handful of examples in the USA. It is finished in an appealing shade of Green Black Metallic (189U) over a black interior with green accents. This car came highly optioned, with a host of extras including Adaptive Damping with Skyhook, Parktronic parking sensors, interior memory package, special radio, Xenon lamps, sports suspension with 5-hole wheels, Exclusive AMG/Condor leather, heated seats, and more.
The Type 119.980 V8 engine is paired to a 5-speed automatic Type 722 gearbox, and the car shows 52,108 kilometers at the time of cataloguing – extremely low in the world of AMG Mercedes. Presented in very good overall condition that reflects the mileage, the car has been in long-term static storage and some related wear is apparent. Additionally, Bonhams has not started the car while in our care, and it will require recommissioning before use.
This rare E50 is a relatively forgotten milestone in the AMG and Mercedes-Benz timeline and presents a rare opportunity for enthusiasts of understated performance cars to pull a trump card at their local Cars and Coffee.
Footnotes
Note, due to California emissions laws, this vehicle may only be sold to an out-of-state resident for use outside the state of California or to a licensed automotive dealer.
Additional information
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