Just briefly glanced at the numbers for The Hammer….how far we have come. Mercedes-AMG now sells a 4 lier TWIN TURBO C-class coupe that has a 503 horsepower engine. Porsche sells a “competing” 911 Carrera S with 420 horsepower. Neither car is the horsepower “king” for it’s respective brand.
Move up to the E-class of today (a bit bigger than The Hammer) and the E63 AMG comes with a 577 horsepower V8. The Porsche? You can buy a DIESEL powered, V8 Cayenne with 380 horsepower….admittedly NOT a “hot” 911, but just an example of what the factory now produces.
Yes, 345 hp from a tuner 5.7L Corvette is now exceeded by the output from a 2.0L Mercedes engine with full factory warranty! Mind you the Koenig’s power is not bad by todays standards, I wonder what the durability or warranty situation was there.
From my time growing up, I always associated cars built after about 1983 that did not have a right side rear view mirror to be the poverty-spec version. Even my lowly 1985 Plymouth Turismo base model had dual rear view mirrors.
That’s why I get a chuckle out of the $161K Hammer ($338K in today’s dollars) does not have a right side mirror.
My 1989 Civic DX sedan had 1 outside mirror, when Honda did their typical mid-cycle “refresh” for 1990 the Civic DX sedan got the other mirror and a fold down rear seat.
My 1992 Civic CX hatch had only 1 mirror. One of my several mods to that car was replacing the mirrors with more aerodynamic mirrors.
BTW, that 92 Civic had vinyl covered seats….if I remember correctly.
It is also worth noting the Koenig’s 480 hp, still impressive today from 3.2 (?) litres. Who knows if that was on a ‘happy’ dyno or what the life expectancy was, though.
Koenig never did anything subtle, did they? Someone should do a writeup on some of the wild 80’s fender-flared-and-spoilered kits that they attached to a variety of cars. I even remember seeing a Jag XJS wearing one. (Maybe that someone should be me?)
The nose styling of that 911 after their handiwork reminds me of a 90’s TVR somehow.
The sophistication of the Corvette vs the brute force of the Porsche.
Not something I’m used to reading.
Just briefly glanced at the numbers for The Hammer….how far we have come. Mercedes-AMG now sells a 4 lier TWIN TURBO C-class coupe that has a 503 horsepower engine. Porsche sells a “competing” 911 Carrera S with 420 horsepower. Neither car is the horsepower “king” for it’s respective brand.
Move up to the E-class of today (a bit bigger than The Hammer) and the E63 AMG comes with a 577 horsepower V8. The Porsche? You can buy a DIESEL powered, V8 Cayenne with 380 horsepower….admittedly NOT a “hot” 911, but just an example of what the factory now produces.
Yes, 345 hp from a tuner 5.7L Corvette is now exceeded by the output from a 2.0L Mercedes engine with full factory warranty! Mind you the Koenig’s power is not bad by todays standards, I wonder what the durability or warranty situation was there.
From my time growing up, I always associated cars built after about 1983 that did not have a right side rear view mirror to be the poverty-spec version. Even my lowly 1985 Plymouth Turismo base model had dual rear view mirrors.
That’s why I get a chuckle out of the $161K Hammer ($338K in today’s dollars) does not have a right side mirror.
Taken off on purpose, to increase its top speed in testing. The 300E that was the basis for the Hammer came standard with both mirrors.
And unusually asymmetrical design for the passenger side…
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/attachments/members-member-rides/865014d1218993540-my-ride-mercedes-benz-260e-1036867_ylx_pakwheels-com-.jpg
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/w124-e-ce-d-td-class/429138d1330454759-side-mirrors-rubber-boots-needed-img_2384.jpg
haha… well that makes more sense then.
My 1989 Civic DX sedan had 1 outside mirror, when Honda did their typical mid-cycle “refresh” for 1990 the Civic DX sedan got the other mirror and a fold down rear seat.
My 1992 Civic CX hatch had only 1 mirror. One of my several mods to that car was replacing the mirrors with more aerodynamic mirrors.
BTW, that 92 Civic had vinyl covered seats….if I remember correctly.
161 big ones madness in 91 money but better than that tasteless Porsche.If there is one thing that has improved in 30 years and thats tast?.
Can’t edit the comment for some reason.
It is also worth noting the Koenig’s 480 hp, still impressive today from 3.2 (?) litres. Who knows if that was on a ‘happy’ dyno or what the life expectancy was, though.
This edition should be called “The Miami Vice drug villain auto Edition”. 🙂
Countach would be required for that. 😉
Exactly.
Also, wouldn’t be complete without the occasional Maserati Quattroporte. 😉
I’ll take the Hammer thank you. In white or silver.
Koenig never did anything subtle, did they? Someone should do a writeup on some of the wild 80’s fender-flared-and-spoilered kits that they attached to a variety of cars. I even remember seeing a Jag XJS wearing one. (Maybe that someone should be me?)
The nose styling of that 911 after their handiwork reminds me of a 90’s TVR somehow.
Koenig XJS… I think Crockett and Tubbs busted this guy. Lol