From The Classifieds: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Estate

Mercedes-AMG sits at the pinnacle of executive vehicle performance. With a dominant Formula One team and strong participation in GT3 championships world-wide, its brand awareness is through the roof.

The road cars, under the leadership of Tobias Moers, have harnessed that halo. From the A 45’s incredible potency to the thumping GT R, there’s nary a segment that Mercedes-AMG performance can’t be explored.

Originally a tuning company, Daimler bought into AMG with a 51 per cent stake in 1999. It strengthened an already-close relationship; through the 1990s, the two groups collaborated on road car projects, with vehicles such as the C 43 and E 55 appearing in Australia.

With strong engine performance – a nod to AMG’s independent tuning roots – these vehicles were stylistically subtle, and lacked the dynamic flair of BMW’s in-house M Division product.

The stakes were raised in the early 21st century, when high-end AMG models received a belting supercharged V8, before moving to the first of the ‘63’ models in 2006. These were powered by a 6.2-litre, naturally-aspirated V8 (the ‘6.3’ badging was a nod to the 1970s 300 SEL 6.3 hotrod) that revved to 7200rpm and generated anywhere from 336kW up to 464kW in the last AMG SLSs.

In 2010 it was announced that a new 5.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 would supplant the atmospheric version, for improved efficiency (around 25 per cent more fuel efficient in testing) and greater torque potential.

The initial version of this ‘M 157’ engine was found in the halo S 63 and produced 400kW with a scarcely believable 800Nm of torque; 150Nm more than even the SLS version of the previous V8.

Throughout these engine generations, Mercedes-Benz AMG (as it was then known) offered them in a range of body styles: Coupe, Sedan, Convertible, SUV... But arguably the coolest way to meld stonking performance with practicality, was with an Estate body.

Estates (wagons, Tourings, Avants, however you want to call them) remain popular in Europe but Aussie figures show the public prefers its hauling to be done in a raised SUV, and damn the dynamics.

Despite this, Australia was treated to the new M 157 Biturbo V8 in wagon form when the W212 E 63 Estate was introduced in 2012.

The E 63 Sedan and Wagon received the 5461cc engine in 386kW 700Nm form. It was capable of mid-four second 0-100km/h sprints with its seven-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels… And it looked damn good doing it.

The featured 2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 63 Estate is for sale at $87,500 and has travelled only 49,650km from new.

It’s a very rare beast in Australia, with only five examples ever ordered for this market. Mercedes-Benz Australia advises that one of the five orders was cancelled, meaning only four made Down Under, ensuring this Estate’s collectible status.

Records indicate this vehicle was optioned with heated rear seats and illuminated door sills, which likely pushed the new car price north of $280,000.

“I’ve owned the E 63 for the last three years,” says current owner Matt.

“I was attracted to the performance estate concept in Europe.

“The E 63 appealed for its rarity, its understated styling and its practicality… but also its performance. That 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 was lauded as one of the greatest engines ever made at the time, and I can see why,” he says.

In Matt’s hands, the E 63 has regularly been on daily driver duty, but his fastidiousness is evident in how the car has been looked after.

“I’m an enthusiast at heart, and I always keep my cars in immaculate condition.”

As such, this pristine AMG E 63 Wagon has up to date service records and has recently been treated to new brake rotors all around. It will also be sold with a current roadworthy certificate, so it’s ready to go and be enjoyed.

Let’s leave the final word to Matt: “It’s the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

See previous carsales From the Classifieds