In my personal life, I’m a big fan of Mercedes-Benz products from the 1980s and 90s. For me, these were world-class products, known for impressive reliability and outstanding highway manners. They can also be impressive as modified specimens, with their squared-off proportions working quite well with the plethora of period-correct modifications that were popular when these cars were new. In the case of this 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300CE coupe listed here on eBay, it was heavily modified by the company’s performance arm, AMG, for former professional baseball player and MLB manager Ozzie Guillen – and shows just 22,074 original miles.
Now, when it comes to AMG-modified Mercedes, there are two distinct categories: cars that were ordered and sent directly to AMG for further upgrades, or vehicles that were modified by owners/private shops with AMG parts. The former is much more desirable, and based on the selling dealer’s mention of having full AMG documentation, my guess is this car was ordered and built exactly the way the first owner requested. It’s unclear if Mr. Guillen was the first caretaker, but the timing of his career peak as a player lines up with when this 300CE would have been built.
The other details worth noting is that the AMG upgrades are not just cosmetic in nature, which is usually a tell-tale sign that a car was more or less assembled piece-by-piece. The AMG body kits float around various classifieds pages and enthusiast marketplaces, but the actual engine hardware is far more difficult to track down. The listing notes that in addition to the body and styling enhancements, this 300CE also features an AMG camshaft, sports exhaust, and upgraded suspension. Assuming all of this can be verified via the aforementioned documentation and that it’s all still physically installed on the car, the asking price starts to make sense.
The performance modifications may not add a significant amount of horsepower, but AMG rarely designed/installed parts that didn’t have some measurable impact. All told, the upgrades usually created an ideal balance between comfort and performance, although AMG was known to go much, much further with cars like its iconic “Hammer” model that made the W124 a supercar killer, capable of reaching almost 190 miles per hour. In the case of this 300CE, the documentation will play a very real role in assigning value, so be sure to get a copy of the records before plunking down $160,000.
$160 large? Sorry, I don’t think so.
I’m a fan of AMG’s engine and chassis upgrades, which time in a couple of cars so equipped tells me work, seamlessly and unobtrusively.
Body kits, not so much.
For $160 Large, I would much prefer AMG’s “Hammer” conversion (that’s a beefed-up M-B V8 stuffed under the hood, with driveline and suspension/brake mods to match) and no exterior add-ons. When you have that kind of urge awaiting pressure from your right foot, there’s no need to advertise.