METCHA | the oracle of leather design culture.

METCHA | A global initiative aimed at taking leather-oriented stories into the spotlight to reflect today's generation's view of design and culture.

About Us Contact Us Instagram Facebook Twitter Spotify Pinterest Youtube Vimeo Google News Giphy RSS

The ride of an era.

Deep dive into the legendary Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG

The vibrantly energetic attitude of the 80s was marked with a fresh generation of sports cars that broke through the boxy style of the times with sleek, exotic lines ― the Porsche 959, Ferrari Testarossa, Lotus Esprit, and Chevrolet Corvette (C4), to name a few.

Among the boom of race-worthy rides, rivalries were bound to arrive, such as the duel between the BMW 635 CSi coupes and the Mercedes 560 SEC AMG ― one of Benz's all-time biggest stars.

2 metcha internal 750x1000 Mercedes-Benz-560-SEC - IMAGE

BMW made waves in 1983 with the release of the 635 CSi, featuring an edgy iteration of its traditional six-cylinder in-line, with 3.5 liters of displacement and 289 h. Although Mercedes offered more powerful models at the time, they lacked the sporty aesthetic that was dominating the decade ― so the auto manufacturer set forward on elevating their 560 SEC ride to a new level.

Approaching AMG, which had not yet been integrated into the Daimler-Benz group, the revamp began by giving a "pass" on the V8, which underwent an extensive overhaul and had a high power to 386 hp, the same as Testarossa. Wider tires required enlarged fenders, and the addition of skirts and a discreet airfoil emphasized the sporty look while increasing dynamic potential of the nearly two-ton ride.

8 metcha internal 640x1000 Mercedes-Benz-560-SEC - IMAGE

6 metcha internal 640x1000 Mercedes-Benz-560-SEC - IMAGE

9 metcha internal 640x1000 Mercedes-Benz-560-SEC - IMAGE

A striking two-tone white over silver paintjob complemented by a luxurious light grey leather interior are accented with sleek wheels, resulting in a modern look that stood ahead of the times at the point of production ― which, by the way, was highly limited. The official count is unknow, some arguing that AMG produced less than 10 units while others claim there were up to 30 ― although there's no shortage of original 560 SECs that later "converted" to the visual elements of AMG's version.

0 metcha internal 750x1000 Mercedes-Benz-560-SEC - IMAGE

3 metcha internal 750x1000 Mercedes-Benz-560-SEC - IMAGE

Today one of the OG models will cost up to six figures if you're looking to add one to your collection, with RM Sotheby's featuring a unit at their 2016 auto auction for a starting bid of no less than $100 thousand USD.

For today's wheels, see how Hyundai is dropping one of 2021's most anticipated rides.

== "image") == "image") --}}