The second of Raul Gardini’s Hammers is this W124 Sedan, a definitive example of AMG’s most iconic pre-merger model.

According to a copy of the Mercedes-Benz Data Card, this car began life as a humble 300 E Sedan, chassis WDB1240301A341733, with corresponding production no. 6171157. Completed at the Untertürkheim plant on October 6, 1986, and originally finished in Blue Black Metallic (DB 199), the new E-Class Sedan was shipped directly to the AMG workshop in Affalterbach.

There, it was converted to full Hammer specification and reidentified as AMG124.17216011. AMG’s work included installing a 6.0-liter Type M117 engine equipped with the Erhard Melcher-designed DOHC 32-valve heads. Additionally, the Hammer was fitted with an AMG exhaust system, suspension kit, body kit, “Aero I” wheels, and a long-range fuel tank. Inside, the Recaro seats were trimmed in brown Buffalo leather and the interior was finished off with an AMG 320 km/h speedometer, steering wheel, and wood trim.

In April 1988, the new W124 Hammer was delivered to Raul Gardini, who registered the car in Milan, initially under the corporate entity Ferruzzi Agricola Finanziaria S.p.A. In October 1991, the AMG was transferred into the Montedison entity, and then into Sig Gardini’s name personally, at which time it was registered in Ravenna, Italy as RA-557557.

Following Sig Gardini’s death, the dispersal of his AMG Hammers was entrusted to Mercedes-Benz specialist Paolo Michinelli. A copy of a letter on file, dated November 23, 1994, from AMG reads: “Dear Mr. Michinelli, we herewith confirm, that the above-mentioned vehicle was in our facilities in 1989 to change the automatic gearbox to 5-speed manual gearbox.”

In 1995, the AMG was sold to another infamous Italian car collector, Luigi Compiano. He registered the Hammer in the name of his Padova-based private security company – a business that went bankrupt in 2013 after he had siphoned corporate funds to amass a personal collection of 450 cars, 80 boats, and thousands of motorcycles. The collection was seized by the Italian government and its contents sold in 2016 at the highly publicized Duemila Ruote auction.

Described at the time as a 300 E Sedan AMG, this one-of-a-kind Hammer was acquired by a shrewd American collector who owned several pre-merger models and knew he had found a diamond in the rough. Under his ownership, the Hammer was recommissioned by Europa Imports of Winnetka, Illinois, while marque experts Blue Ridge MB of Lilburn, Georgia, rebuilt the engine with new rods and pistons.

Under the current ownership, the Hammer has been carefully detailed to show-quality standards and presents in excellent condition, showing 56,010 km (approximately 34,800 miles) at the time of cataloguing.

In addition to historic registration records and invoices for recent work performed, this car is offered with an original owner’s manual, warranty book, Becker stereo literature, tool kit, spare, and first aid kit. Further, this W124 Hammer has been inspected, physically verified, and researched in the Affalterbach archives by AMG Classic and MKB Manufaktur and is accompanied at auction by its AMG Classic Conversion Certificate, which confirms its original build details and component numbers.

A definitive example of the iconic W124 Hammer, with the ultimate 6.0-liter DOHC M117 engine and unique five-speed manual gearbox and fascinating Italian provenance, this Mercedes-Benz is undoubtedly one of the finest and most desirable of all pre-merger AMG creations.