Mercedes-Benz 500 TE AMG Is The German Wagon Of Our Dreams

A relatively clean and running 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 TE AMG will be sold at The Quail Auction by Bonhams on August 18, 2023. What makes this car so special, apart from its wonderful wagon styling, is that the car was tuned by AMG before it joined hands with the German automaker in 1999.
 

Prior to the merger, AMG was an aftermarket tuning company. AMG had notable projects before the merger, but surviving examples have become a rarity. Now they are a dime a dozen with a few standouts.
 
Back then, AMG-badged Mercedes-Benz models had to be inspected to determine if they were genuine. According to Bonhams, experts have looked at this Benz wagon and attested that it has a wealth of ultra-rare period-correct AMG parts.
 

The bright red wagon, which was originally a Mercedes-Benz 300 series before it was upgraded to a 500 TE AMG, is sporting a set of AMG Penta alloy wheels and an AMG Aero kit, while the cabin boasts an AMG speedometer, a four-spoke steering wheel, and a set of Recaro bucket seats.
 
Meanwhile, its 240-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 uses large duel inlets, which was common on many AMG big body pre-merger builds. Plus, the entire body was rebuilt, and it has new carpets, a new headliner, and classic Cocomats. It also has a fully functional air-conditioning system.
 

With all that said, this time capsule of a car will be fetching a pretty penny at The Quail auction, which will be held at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, tomorrow August 18 at 11.00 PDT. The estimated auction price currently ranges from $75,000 – $100,000.
 
Before you scoff at that price, remember that this is a pre-merger AMG car, which is a big deal for some. There’s also the fact that while Mercedes-AMG has not given up on wagons just yet, vehicles in this body style from the performance marque have become a bit of a rarity.
 
The Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon exists and is available for the US market, but the old-school 500 TE AMG has a special charm that classic Merc fans will find hard to resist.