AMG 280TE Is One of the All-Time Great Wagons

Before the Hammer, AMG made a wicked wagon, and you won’t believe the details.

AMG is responsible for some of the most brutish, intoxicating speed machines on the planet. Their handcrafted power plants and engineering expertise have combined in glorious fashion, creating some of the best driver’s cars the world has ever seen. While AMG is known in the U.S. mostly for impressive tweaks on cars like the C-Class and S-Class, our friends across the pond prefer machines that check all the boxes. Yup, they love wagons.

It really is a shame that fast wagons aren’t accepted on a wide scale in America. The Cadillac CTS-V wagon is a notable exception, but even that sold in very limited numbers, and didn’t make it to a second generation. AMG wagons are true rarities here, too. Less than 100 are produced each year for the U.S. market. Even so, fast wagons are still a thing of absolute beauty, and should be appreciated as such. Thus, we share with you one of the best of them all, the Mercedes-Benz AMG 280TE.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About the Wicked 280TE

When the 280TE was produced in the late ’70s, AMG — then an outside tuner of Mercedes products — recognized a customer desire for a more powerful version. So they threw out the stock straight-6, and swapped in a much larger 5.0-liter V8 mill.

The added width of the larger motor meant a total re-engineering of the steering rack. This, however, was a blessing in disguise. It pushed the weight more inward, aiding in the creation of a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Not to mention, the car was good for over 400 lb-ft of torque, making it a rather quick affair. Top speed was a period-dizzying 146 mph. As such, the “station wagon” is one of the undisputed, all-time greats.

We were recently reminded of such a great car via Cool Hunting‘s insightful review of AMG wagons through the years. So check it out, then let us know what you think!