Home / Mercedes-Benz /

ULRA-RARE 1987 MERCEDES W201 190E AMG WIDEBODY V8 ENGINE 28K MILES PROJECT CAR!!

Price: Ask a price!
Location: Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States
Condition: Used
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: 190-Series
SubModel: 190 E BABY HAMMER
Type: Sedan
Trim: WIDE-BODY
Year: 1987
Mileage: 28,200
VIN: wdbda28d4hf330118
Color: Red
Engine size: M117 5.6 V8
Number of cylinders: 8
Power options: Power Locks, Power Windows, Power Seats
Fuel: Gasoline
Transmission: Automatic
Drive type: RWD
Interior color: Black
Safety options: Anti-Lock Brakes, Driver Airbag
Options: Cassette Player, Leather Seats, Sunroof
Vehicle Title: Clear

1987 Mercedes-Benz 190-Series 190 E BABY HAMMER Description

THIS IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND 1987 W201 190E AMG WIDEBODY WITH ONLY 28K ORIGINAL MILES!!! IT’S WORTH $40,000 OR MORE IN EXCELLENT COSMETIC AND MECHANICAL CONDITION. UNOBTANIUM. GONE FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. COLLECTOR’S ITEM. These are all phrases that apply to this car. It is a one-off 1987 190E AMG widebody custom engineered to hold the M117 Mercedes V8 engine in its engine bay. You want to laugh like a lunatic every time you drive a car, and start conversations everywhere you go? This is the car my friends. I have shepherded this project since 2008 when I literally found it in a barn in New Hampshire. It has been a back-burner project for me for a long time. It has spent time with a marque and pre-merger AMG specialist and received lots of engine work worth well over $10,000. This car in proper cosmetic and mechanical condition, with only 28,xxx original miles, authentic/period correct W201 AMG widebody conversion, 2.3-16V interior, V8 M117 engine, AMG W201 period-correct authentic exhaust, and much more, would command approximately $40,000. But this car is a project, and as such will sell at a significant discount to that price. I will go into detail about what’s been done, what it still needs, and the ballpark pricing it will take to get it there using a shop to do the work. If you do your own work, you can take this car from being a great deal to an ABSOLUTE STEAL as you will get it completed for far less than its retail value. I sold a 1990 560SEL AMG 6.0 for $30K two years ago, and that car had 86K miles. I have sold and many more unique W126 and other older MB’s. I know what they are worth, so please read on to find out more.

-- Here is your BEAST!! -- Please let me stop you now if you are looking for a daily driver. This car needs work in spite of how nice it may look in pictures. But I will do my best to tell you what it needs, be conservative about the costs, and you will wind up with a VERY fair deal. Just selling the no-longer-available authentic AMG parts off of this car could get you close to what you’ll pay for it; the exhaust alone would fetch $2K+. Just to be clear, it starts, stops, runs, and drives. It just needs mechanical and cosmetic work to get it to completion. But oh the sound of the solid-lifter M117 V8 engine running through the AMG exhaust, the crisp PUSH as the AMG-valved transmission upshifts after holding each gear to high RPM, and the slot-car lowered handling…so much potential! Please read on to find out more. Here's the deal: -- This is a 1987 Mercedes 190E in bright red over black leather, wood trim, and black carpets. It has only 28,xxx miles! Clean Carfax but so much of its life was spent in garages it has virtually no records. It started off life in Quebec, then sold to previous owner 2000. Work was done in Canada in 1998. I bought it from previous owner and titled it in 2008. The owner prior to me that kept it indoors owned it for at least 8 years as well. – -- Exterior condition – In spite of it looking nice for pictures, it needs minor bodywork to fill some small damage and bumpy spots on lower bumpers and fender flares, and to address the bubbling and rough spots under the paint. The current red paint will fade to oxidized if left in the sun so it needs a repaint. The glass is all in good shape. Authentic Bosh Euro lights are in good shape. It’s missing one trim piece on lower driver’s door, but it is a stock 190E piece, not anything AMG specific, probably a $30 pickup on ebay. There are also a couple of rust spots in the undercarriage that need addressing if you are going to drive this car like God and AMG intended. If you hire a bodyshop that does good work at fair prices (not a show-car shop and not Earl Scheib, somewhere in between), you can get the exterior and undercarriage back to very good condition with fresh paint and needed repairs for around $4000. If you do the work yourself or have access to body materials, welder, and a spray booth, figure time plus $1000 in paint, parts, and materials. If you want to have me do the work, I can get it done to very good condition through my dealer contacts for about $3000. -- -- All widebody panels are AMG authentic period correct. Not the garbage ‘duraflex’ replicas you see on ebay and elsewhere. They have their AMG markings and part numbers on them as they should. -- -- Look at the body panels.....they are straight. -- -- The 17”authentic AMG Aero I (post-merger) alloy wheels are in good condition with some minor marks to the lips and wheel faces. The tires are matching 235/45/17 Pirelli P600’s that while in excellent tread condition are older and should be replaced. The wheels are true with no bends. -- -- Suspension – The suspension is weak, and springs need to be replaced (struts/shocks seem OK). I will provide a set of matching brand new springs for the buyer that I bought but never installed. Assume a few mounts and bushings will need to be replaced as well. Figure $1500 to get the suspension in road-ready condition at a decent wheel/tire shop.— Brakes – This car has a new master cylinder, brake fluid flush, lines, and pads/rotors. There is little if anything to do in the braking area. Stops fine, no noise or grindy feeling. -- Interior – Overall for a 1987 the interior is pretty nice! The seats are supportive and generally in very nice condition. Yes they could use some Lexol or other leather moisturizing treatment due to age, but they are not dry-rotted, cracked, etc. They feel very good to sit in, firm and supportive. The carpets and headliner are also very nice with no attention needed. There is the usual splitting to the top of the rear seating area that needs to be patched, the dash has a few cracks in it, and it needs a few stock 190E trim pieces like the C-pillar upholstered panels that are cheap pickups ($50 each) on ebay or at a wrecker yard. The door panels switches need to be secured with adhesive, a couple of speaker covers from the ADS/Nakamichi system are missing, etc. Wood trim has stress cracks and would need to be refinished if you want it perfect, but it’s very presentable as-is. Figure $500-$1000 will get the interior to very nice condition. -- -- The door panels and trim are in pretty nice condition for the age. -- -- Even the headliner and trunk are in decent shape. -- -- Electrical – Some attention will be needed to lighting, left side turn signal flashes quickly, right side is fine. Headlights and taillights work. Windows go up and down although two are slow. Electric seats work. I am not brave enough to try the sunroof as I don’t want it to get stuck in the open position, but it might work fine. HVAC blows heat, but due to the V8 engine the A/C has been removed. It was relocated to underneath the car and I retained much of the system with parts and lines boxed up, but I do not want to make any promises. I don’t know if rear defogger still works. Wipers work. So as I said, it will need some sorting, let’s call it $1000. -- -- Engine – Much work has been done to what was originally an M117 6.0 SOHC sleeved block. It has lots of new parts and I will post the list shortly, but for now it has a solid lifter conversion, new valve seals, head gone through, new distributor cap, rotor, plugs, and wires, and much more. The engine rebuilder produced a work invoice totaling $19,000! It starts right up and settles into an aggressive cam-heavy deep bass idle. Engine revs well. There are two remaining issues that need sorting. The car will run hot. Radiator has been pressure tested and has hot and cold spots. And there is a misfire that could be an injector, fuel distributor, or other issue. I just do not have the time to keep going on this project, which is why I am selling. To be VERY conservative, and because the engine is the heart of this car, let’s call the engine work needed $4000 if you bring it to a shop. That’s actually enough to throw your hands up and buy a used M117 engine with warranty and have it installed! So no way could you go over that amount. If you have a parts car, do your own work, etc you can get an engine into this car in proper running order for MUCH less. – --Transmission – Due to the engine running hot, I never wanted to risk running it long enough to do any damage to test the trans. But I have run the car at highway speed for a very brief time before shutting it down to go back to the shop, and the AMG-valved transmission was awesome. It behaved exactly like the one in my 560SEL AMG 6.0 car, where it held gears to higher RPM than a stock trans, and upshifted and downshifted aggressively. It really felt great both in town and once on the highway for a brief blast. -- -- Exhaust – The authentic W201 AMG sport exhaust (period-correct) is in very nice shape, sounds great, and is fitted to the car. It does its job well and puts out a great low-bass tone. – -- So there you have it. A one-of-a-kind 190E with authentic AMG widebody kit, AMG exhaust, AMG wheels, and much more. If you take the $40K perfect condition retail selling price, and then deduct the (generously conservative) repair estimates above of $11,500, you get a selling price of $28,500. Honestly, I think the best idea is to buy a nice 190E with a non-running engine, and you can steal so many parts off of it, it will save you a lot of money. A nice cosmetic condition 190E rolling chassis is $1000-$1500 give or take a little. Of course you’ll want to earn something for doing the work to get this car to completion, so no one is going to pay $28,500 and then $11,500 to get to its $40K value, I understand that. I set the reserve thousands and thousands (and thousands) below the $28,500 amount, so you can feel like you’re getting an excellent deal and have plenty of profit opporunity once the car is complete if you should decide to sell it, have a fantastic car if you plan to keep it at a VERY reasonable price, and even have some discount to account for something you discover that needs attention. – -- At the BIN price, I will include everything I have for the car……springs, other spare parts I have bought and accumulated over time, AMG mats, and more. -- -- This 190E AMG widebody is sold as-is, where is, with no warranty expressed or implied. This is a project car that needs significant work to get road ready, both cosmetically and mechanically, and I have listed it as such. It will make a GREAT project, because when you are done, you won’t ever see another like it on the road. -- -- I have good feedback, and sold many Audis, Acuras, and Benzes that the new owners are thrilled with. They and others have offered to act as references to verify that I am honest in my descriptions of the cars I sell, and you are welcome to contact them. -- THIS IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CAR, AND IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE DEAL!!

If you have questions, please call Bruce at 856-912-2600 or email me in advance.

Winning bidder must send a $2000 deposit via wire transfer or bank/cashier’s check within 48 hours, and pay the balance within three additional days. Car, paperwork, and title are ready to be delivered when all funds are CLEAR in my account. There is a $399 documentation/mailing/title transfer fee on ALL cars. Car is sold as-is, where-is, and there are no warranties expressed or implied, exclusive of what ebay may offer to the buyer. Please have any financing lined up BEFORE you bid. Please check my feedback: I do not play games, and I have sold items on ebay for more than the value of this one. No negative or hidden feedback buyers please, and I reserve the right to verify and/or cancel bids that come from users with poor/low/no feedback ratings. Good luck and happy bidding! Sorry about all the fine print below, but some non-paying bidders have made it necessary to list these terms and conditions. Good luck and happy bidding! TERMS OF SALE Placing a Bid: By bidding on this vehicle you are entering into a legally binding contract to purchase this vehicle and you agree to abide by all terms of sale set forth herein. Vehicle Representation: Although we describe all our vehicles to the best of our abilities, it is still possible that we may have unintentionally made an error or left some information out. Please keep in mind that used vehicles may have typical dings and scratches inherent for their year and mileage. Interior wear should also be considered depending on the vehicle’s year and mileage. Opinions and expectations can vary, so please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the condition of this vehicle. Used cars may not come with all of the original books, keys or accessories. Please review all photos carefully and if there is anything you are not sure about, ask questions prior to bidding. We are not responsible for errors or omissions in our listings. The mileage may be different than advertised due to test drives and demos. Vehicle Inspection: We welcome and encourage potential buyers to inspect the vehicle but such inspections MUST be conducted prior to completion of this auction. This vehicle is available for inspection at any reasonable time. If you choose to have the inspection done by a licensed professional, you must do so at your own expense. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value based solely upon that judgment. Furthermore, it will be assumed that you have inspected this vehicle fully if you have placed the bid. Financing: If you are planning to finance this vehicle through a lending institution, you must secure the loan prior to bidding. Secure all finances and be able to follow through with the payment before you bid. Please call us if you require assistance in obtaining financing. No Reserve Auctions: By bidding on this vehicle you are entering into a legally binding contract. If you bid on this vehicle, that means you agree to abide by all of our terms and conditions. If at the end of the auction you are the highest bidder, you have won this vehicle. Warranty: Unless stated otherwise, this vehicle is being sold “as is” and where is with all faults and possible defects. No representations or warranties are made by seller, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of title or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Nor are any representations or warranties relied upon by bidders in making bids. We are not the first owners of this vehicle and therefore cannot guarantee history, condition, reliability, mileage, title, salvage/history of salvage, function or performance of the vehicle. You are only buying what we have. Manufacturer’s warranties may still apply. An extended warranty may also be available. Please contact us for details. Vehicle Transportation: Buyer is responsible for shipping and/or pickup of the vehicle. All shipping charges are the buyer’s responsibility. We will not be responsible in any way for claims arising from shipping damage although we will assist in the shipping logistics. Shipping companies have insurance policies that protect buyers against damage. If you choose to pick up the vehicle yourself, we can meet you near the train station at our local office in Bucks County, PA, or other location as mutually agreed to in advance. This service is free of charge. However, we do require advance notice. Payment Information: If you are the winning bidder, you must contact us within 24 hours of winning the auction to set up payment arrangements. We require a $2,000 non-refundable deposit within forty-eight (48) hours of winning the auction. This deposit can be made through PayPal to brucem105@comcast.net. In the alternative, you can make your deposit via bank wire transfer and we can provide you via email the information needed to make such wire transfer. If the deposit is not received within the required timeframe and alternative arrangements acceptable to us are not made, we reserve the right to make the vehicle available for sale to another buyer. The remaining balance is due within five days of making the deposit. You must scan/email or fax us your state issued driver’s license after you make the deposit. We also require proof of insurance prior to delivering any vehicle. As final payment for the vehicle, we will accept a bank/cashier’s check, bank loan check, wire transfer, or cash. We will not release the vehicle and/or title until funds clear back to the issuing bank. If you pay cash, you can pick up the vehicle immediately. If you pay by wire transfer the vehicle will be available for pickup as soon as the wired funds are available in our account. If you pay by bank/cashier’s check, you will have to wait for the title until the funds clear back to the issuing bank unless alternative arrangements are made. If payment is made using a check we will hold all vehicles and titles until the funds clear back to the issuing bank. Bidder’s Age: You must be 18 years of age or older to bid. Storage Terms: Once a vehicle has been paid for in full, we will store it free of charge for five (5) calendar days and at nineteen ($19) dollars per day after that. Liquidated Damages: In the event that the winning bidder refuses to honor his/her obligation to purchase the vehicle, we shall be entitled to liquidated damages from that bidder in the amount of two thousand dollars plus two hundred dollars per one thousand dollars of the total purchase price of the vehicle. Sales Tax & Other Fees: Depending on the jurisdiction of your residence, the vehicle may be subject to a sales tax. Choice of Law & Forum: Buyer agrees that in the event any dispute shall arise, we have the sole right to select the venue and location where such dispute will be heard. By bidding on this auction buyer consents to service by certified mail. Miscellaneous: We reserve the right to obtain and verify the registered information of all users who bid on this auction. We reserve the right to cancel any and all bids at our discretion and end the auction early in the event the vehicle is sold prior to the end of the auction, we shall not be held liable for such cancellations.

More Mercedes-Benz classic cars for sale