1972 AMG?

[JimSimmons]

I'm looking at a '72 450 SL that has an AMG steering wheel, front spoiler and wide aluminum wheels painted white with the outer rim part in brushed aluminum texture.

It's a classy looking car with both tops, but I suspect this is not a true "AMG". I'm thinking that someone added the AMG parts. Does anyone have any thoughts on this. :?

Jim Simmons
Modesto, California, USA

[F14Tomcat]

I suspect this is not a true "AMG". I'm thinking that someone added the AMG parts.


As for "true" AMG, no - the first "true" AMG was the 1995 C36 (if you are talking about street-legal passenger cars and not race cars). But AMG did tune Mercedes for people when they formed in 1967 although (and this is with no factual basis) I don't think they were putting the AMG logo on parts at the time.

[JimSimmons]

I suspect this is not a true "AMG". I'm thinking that someone added the AMG parts.


As for "true" AMG, no - the first "true" AMG was the 1995 C36 (if you are talking about street-legal passenger cars and not race cars). But AMG did tune Mercedes for people when they formed in 1967 although (and this is with no factual basis) I don't think they were putting the AMG logo on parts at the time.

This car has an AMG logo on both the chin spoiler and the steering wheel. The aluminum wheels have the tri-star cast on the center cap. It is a USA car, so I'm having doubts that it ever saw the AMG shop. I've never seen AMG parts on any MB this old.

[F14Tomcat]

The AMG logo on the chin spoiler is unique (I think) to just the C36. Ours has it, but the C43 and later models don't (somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen it on anything other than a C36).

As for AMG on the steering wheel, that I've not seen. Our C36 and CLK55 just have the Mercedes star in the middle...or I'm blind :wink:

The AMG parts (especially the logo) are not hard to come by these days. I saw the AMG logo on the trunk of a C-Class and it was de-badged otherwise, but I know that thing was probably just a C220 that somebody put different rims and tires on. There is a thread here that dealt with putting AMG logos/parts on non-AMG cars:
http://mercedes-amg-class.com/community ... .php?t=188 (http://mercedes-amg-class.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=188)

[Fletch]

The AMG logo on the chin spoiler is unique (I think) to just the C36. Ours has it, but the C43 and later models don't (somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen it on anything other than a C36).

As for AMG on the steering wheel, that I've not seen. Our C36 and CLK55 just have the Mercedes star in the middle...or I'm blind :wink:

http://mercedes-amg-class.com/community ... .php?t=188 (http://mercedes-amg-class.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=188)


Correction coming up as requested! :) My first E-55 (1998) had AMG on the chin spoiler too. My current post facelift (2001) E-55 does not however. Also, both cars have the mercedes star and AMG on the steering wheel boss, on the pre facelift both were embossed, on my current car the star is chrome and the AMG is embossed.

R,

[F14Tomcat]

Correction coming up as requested! :) My first E-55 (1998) had AMG on the chin spoiler too. My current post facelift (2001) E-55 does not however. Also, both cars have the mercedes star and AMG on the steering wheel boss, on the pre facelift both were embossed, on my current car the star is chrome and the AMG is embossed.

R,


Thanks! :wink: Learned something!

Now I've got to go and really look at the steering wheel on both cars. If AMG is there, it is amazing that I've just never paid attention to it! :shock:

[F14Tomcat]

Neither of our AMGs have an AMG logo on the steering wheel - just the Mercedes star (embossed in the leather on the C36, raised silver on the CLK), and of course SRS Airbag. Is the AMG logo on the steering wheel something specific to Europe and not the US then?

[Fletch]

Neither of our AMGs have an AMG logo on the steering wheel - just the Mercedes star (embossed in the leather on the C36, raised silver on the CLK), and of course SRS Airbag. Is the AMG logo on the steering wheel something specific to Europe and not the US then?


Yep, I've got SRS Airbag embossed on the wheel as well as the AMG logo. Don't know if the use of the AMG logo on the wheel is specific to europe though My previous E-55 was a '98 and the current on is an '01.

R,

[EuroCoupe]

AMG has been putting AMG logos on certain add-ons since the 70's. In the case of a '72, its most likely that the spoilers were added much later than the original production year of the car. My car is a 1986 and has AMG-embossed steering wheel, AMG-labeled speedo to 190mph, AMG-labeled bilstein shocks, AMG-labeled chin spoiler, and a few other odds and ends. The definition of a true AMG car is debateable, whether its the 1995 C36, the first Diamler/AMG factory collaberation, or any pre-1995 car with an AMG-tuned engine. I would certainly refer to a 1984 500SEC with AMG widebody kit and AMG modified engine as a 'true AMG car.' If the car only has wheels and spoilers it was most likey altered at an AMG-authorized distributor, which there were many prior to the 1994 Daimler/AMG merger. AMG North America opened in 1981 and was the sole distibutor for a few years and by 1986 there were several U.S. distibutors. They closed in '93 or so as the merger was nearing completion. Hope this info helps.

[e36t]

There were several AMG W124 E-classes built before 1995 culminating in the 272bhp E36. This had almost the same engine as the C36, the most significant difference being the air-flow sensor and ecu.

The W210 E36 had the AMG logo embossed on the front spoiler - I nearly bought on of these.

I've also owned a 1984 AMG 280TE. This was shipped to AMG from the factory and fitted with a bodykit, 8x16 rims, and uprated engine and suspension components.

- Graham

[Ron406]

I Brought my car from Germany when I was in the service..... it was modified by AMG and had modified tuning done to it at the shop.... then I brought it to the US and had it made street legal with converters.....it is a 1984 500 SEL..... with the logo on the trunk lid edge and the AMG 5 spoke wheels as well as chin spoiler and trunk lid spoiler as well as side dams.... Springs were different rate and much different interior stuff....I was told that in that year there were only a few made of that type ..... ...it was sold and then I bought it back again after the buyer allowed his kid to beat it into a mess .... I am slowly restoring it but it is a slow process
Ron