Michael Schumacher's Mercedes 560SL Was a Hammer on Wheels
Michael Schumacher may never have arranged a hostile takeover himself, but his name is still enshrined in the ownership papers of this this incredible AMG-breathed sledgehammer, transformed from slightly squishy boulevardier to something with more attitude and menace than a sleep-deprived Gerry Wiegert during a cocaine binge. In days gone by, he would have blown past the huddled masses with the 330 horsepower from the 6.0-liter V8, which AMG also shared with the hallowed 300E "Hammer." He would have enjoyed the stealth of the deep, dark blue. (Color-matched wheels? Certainly. Color-matched wood trim, with matching shift knob? The jury is still deliberating.) And, while driving for Mercedes-Sauber well into the 1990s, he would have specced this grandest of grand tourers out himself—no holds barred, delivered right from the factory. Then he would have gone off into the night to terrorize some autobahn dawdlers.
Hard to believe, but in
1986, the house at Affalterbach built just three SLs. Safely ensconced
in the Mercedes-Benz line, AMG produces hi-po machinery nowadays, of
course—faster and more powerful machinery but perhaps rarely as dramatic
as this. Meticulously restored by a former AMG engineer, it has since
received a limited-slip differential, color-matching factory hardtop, a
rear bench seat, a steering wheel from an E55 AMG, complete with
airbag—and, of course, the requisite 6.0 badging.
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