#TBT: AMS E63 AMG Makes ZR1 Look Like an Incompetent Little Child

By Tony Markovich - July 7, 2016

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Phew, that hodgepodge of letters and numbers in the title makes it seem like we’re writing in some sort of code. Let’s simplify it really quickly: Mercedes-Benz Destroys Corvette in Drag Race.

But this wasn’t just any Mercedes-Benz, nor was it an ordinary ‘Vette. Today’s throwback remembers some testing that AMS Performance was doing with an Alpha 9 E63 AMG they were working on. The time trials took place at an event called the wannaGOFAST Half-Mile Shootout, and in this particular race, the E63 was pitted against a modified ZR1.

At this point the AMG had an Alpha Performance turbocharger and ECU reflash. That’s it. That put its power at around the low 700s, all going to the rear wheels. This was not an AWD E63, and yet it crushes the Corvette. It comes out hot and reaches 164.5 mph in the standing half-mile.

Not bad for a nearly 4,500-pound ride.