1988 Archives | AutoDepot

Video: 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG is period gangsta

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Electric Federal 560 SEC AMG video

Lord Vader comments aside, this is a seriously mean looking Mercedes-Benz. Owned by designer Kahren Arakelyan, this 560 SEC has been breathed upon by AMG, and has had its 5.6-liter V8 bored out to a nice, even 6.0 liters (which we suppose should make it a 600 SEC AMG). The AMG treatment has turned this old SEC into a quick, menacing beast.

The video, by Electric Federal, provides a different look at the predecessor to today’s CL-Class, and what it means to Arakelyan, an Armenian that discusses growing up in his homeland, surrounded by Ladas until his dad came home in a legendary Mercedes sedan – the 450SEL 6.9. The “over-engineered” Benz was like nothing the young man had ever seen before.

Arakelyan’s passion for Mercedes was born from that experience, and came with him when he arrived in the United States. In the video, he gives a pretty thorough walk-through of his SEC, while fans of engine noise can listen to the intermittent bursts from the 6.0-liter AMG V8. Scroll down for the full video.

Continue reading 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG is period gangsta

1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG is period gangsta originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG is period gangsta”

Online Find of the Day: 1988 Italdesign Aztec

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Convertible, Auctions, Europe, Design/Style

1988 Italdesign Aztec

Before Pontiac unleashed the vile Aztek on the world, there was another, weirder car that bore the name. In 1988, Italdesign introduced the Aztec, a two-seat roadster that made extremely limited production and carried a $750,000 price tag when new.

Sporting a twin-pod cockpit-style interior and slab-sided, angular design, this thing looks ready for intergalactic travel. Despite looking like it should be parked outside the Mos Eisley cantina, it sports a relatively pedestrian Audi turbo five-cylinder powerplant. The car’s 220 horses meet the road via a Lancia Delta Integrale-derived four-wheel-drive system.

The Aztec was built as Italdesign’s 20th anniversary present to itself, and broke cover at the 1988 Turin Auto Show. Depending on who you ask, Italdesign built either 18 or 50 of the cars. Either way, you don’t see these things very often. The seller is mum on the car’s price tag, but thanks to its rarity, blue-chip nameplate, and stratospheric original MSRP, its a cinch this thing will break six figures.

Online Find of the Day: 1988 Italdesign Aztec originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 May 2011 19:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Online Find of the Day: 1988 Italdesign Aztec”

Retro Spin: 1988 BMW M5

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Quick Spin

25 Years After Launch, Original M5 Still Stirs The Soul

1988 BMW M5

1988 BMW M5 – Click above for high-res image gallery

“How would you like to drive a 1988 M5 up Highway 1?”

That wasn’t a call I was expecting, especially in the late summer of 2010. As far as I was concerned, any car from the 1980s still on the road was sure to be showing a few hundred thousand miles, springs coming through the seats and air conditioning blowing warm.

We all have a short list of favorite vehicles that most will never see, let alone drive.

However, BMW North America was on the other end of the phone, and the vehicle we were discussing had been pulled out of a factory museum on the East Coast and shipped to California in a covered truck. Not only did it have low miles, but this unique model was in near-mint condition.

The 1988 BMW M5 is special in more ways than one. In addition to being the first-generation M5, its production was extremely limited and each and every copy sold in North America was jet black with blacked-out trim. And there was the powerplant… BMW had essentially dropped the M1’s 24-valve 3.5-liter racing engine under the hood.

You can guess what my answer was.

Gallery: 1988 BMW M5: Retro Spin

1988 BMW M5