Following the success of its recent Mercedes-Benz 190E restomod built to channel the spirit of the Evo II homologation special from the 1990s, HWA is ready with a new project – and this time it’s aiming higher. A single teaser photo of the car’s side has dropped, and that boxy profile is unmistakable.
We’re almost certain that it’s Hammer time. No, we don’t mean parachute pants, chunky chains, and fast footwork. We’re talking about another 1980s icon, AMG’s legendary Hammer.
First, A Little History Lesson
1988 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6.0 AMG HammerMercedes-Benz
Before AMG became an official part of Mercedes-Benz, the motorsports and engineering outfit founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher built parts and engines for race cars and eventually installed some of them in road cars. These included a high-performance cylinder head with a four-valve-per-cylinder design that AMG added in the mid-1980s to a Mercedes 5.0-liter V8, which it then shoehorned into the midsize W124 300E sedan.
The resulting super sedan was the AMG 300E 5.0, the forerunner to the modern AMG E63. It quickly became known as the Hammer because of its brutal performance that could outmatch Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the time, at least in acceleration. Later versions received bigger engines, and AMG also built some coupes and even a couple of wagons.
What Might A Modern Hammer Be Like?
After selling AMG to Mercedes in the ’90s, Hans-Werner Aufrecht went on to form HWA (the name is his initials), returning to his roots of building parts for race cars, primarily for Mercedes. HWA also built complete cars, such as the Mercedes CLK-GTR. More recently, the company has expanded into the restomod business with the HWA Evo of 2024.
HWA hasn’t shared any details about its latest restomod, but we suspect the company will follow a similar route to the last one. That means starting with a donor W124 sedan, stripping it bare, and then rebuilding it with the latest materials and know-how to deliver modern levels of safety, comfort, and, of course, performance. In the case of the Evo, 75% of the chassis components were new, helping to double the torsional stiffness of the original design.
HWA will probably use its own V8 engine, too, since original Hammers and their engines are so rare. Looking again at the Evo, HWA used a heavily modified version of Mercedes’ own 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, tuned to develop up to 493 horsepower when you spec the Affalterbach Package, or up to 552 hp in the Evo R racing version. Comparatively, the 190E Evo II’s 2.5-liter engine was a Cosworth-built four-cylinder.
All this is to say that HWA doesn’t necessarily re-use the same engine configuration as the cars its creations are inspired by. HWA could build its own motor, or modify an AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Nothing is off limits for this modern Hammer.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
1988 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6.0 AMG HammerMercedes-Benz
The Hammer largely set the tone for AMG’s strategy right up to today: implanting huge power in a Mercedes that keeps all the luxury and refinement the Three-Pointed Star is renowned for. It’s easy to see why HWA would want to resurrect it, and the move makes business sense, too. The company is building 100 Evo sedans and 15 Evo R track versions, with prices starting at €714,000 (around $830,000). Almost all build slots sold out overnight, and we suspect demand for the new project will be just as strong.
HWA hasn’t revealed pricing or production specs and numbers, but we suspect both will reflect the car’s extreme exclusivity. More details will follow, though HWA says its sales team is already standing by.
