1994 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG

Model Guide: Mercedes C36 AMG and C43 AMG

In July 1994 Mercedes-Benz released their answer to the BMW M3: the C36 AMG. Based on a standard C-class, the car was reassembled at the AMG factory where it was given an AMG body styling, AMG alloys, and most importantly a 3606cc fuel-injected 6-cylinder DOHC engine producing roughly 280bhp. Roughly because each car was hand-assembled and outputs varied. Power assisted steering and ABS were standard, as were cruise control, central locking, electric windows and driver & passenger airbags. Early cars came with a four-speed auto gearbox, but from August 1996 a five-speed electronic auto box was fitted. The result was a 4-door saloon with stunning road performance: 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds and a top speed (unlimited) of 169mph.

In February 1998, a new Mercedes C Class big-hitter arrived on the scene: the C43 AMG. Unlike its predecessor, this car was built from scratch on the AMG production line at Affalterbach, Daimler-Benz having just purchased the company to bring it in-house. This model was offered as both a 4-door saloon and an estate, both using a 4266cc fuel-injected V8 DOHC engine producing 306bhp through a five-speed auto box driving the rear wheels. AMG body styling included single-piece alloys, green tinted windows, sports suspension and a huge range of interior upgrades: heated front seats, side front airbags, seat belt pretensioners, Speedtronic cruise control and automatic climate control came as standard. The saloon reached 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, the estate in 5.9 seconds.

Interest has been renewed in these early AMG models in recent years, as they provide superb performance and the practicality of a saloon for relatively little money. Also, with limited numbers sold, they are an inexpensive way to buy a rare piece of Mercedes history. Known problems are the steering damper and front ball joints, plus the five-speed 'box is widely regarded as not as robust as the earlier four-speed version on the C36 AMG. Trim items can be costly, with Mercedes-Benz dealerships often the only option but otherwise many other items (ECU, cat etc) can now be replaced/ repaired by specialist garages.

Alternative performance saloons include the BMW E36 M3, the Lancia Delta HF Evoluzione and the Audi Quattro.