For many car enthusiasts, the allure of AMG vehicles began long before they became a ubiquitous part of the Mercedes-Benz lineup. Back in the late 1980s, AMG was an independent tuner, creating incredibly special and potent versions of Mercedes-Benz cars. For a young Arnold Panganiban, the local Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories (then the authorized AMG dealer) was a place of pilgrimage. He would regularly visit to admire the showroom stars, particularly the fearsome AMG Hammers based on the W124 E-Class, and their slightly smaller sibling, the “Baby Hammer”—a Mercedes-Benz W201 190E treated to the full AMG magic, including a 3.2-liter engine.
Arnold’s fascination wasn’t just a fleeting interest. Fueled by car magazines and weekly visits to the dealership, his dream of owning a Baby Hammer solidified. The 190E 3.2 AMG represented attainable exoticism, a step into the world of high-performance Mercedes-Benz vehicles, even if, at the time, it felt financially out of reach. The dream was so vivid, he even imagined personalized license plates: AMG 3.2L.
Arnold’s passion for cars was deeply rooted, tracing back to his childhood in the Philippines. An uncle, a significant influence in his life, instilled in him a love for automobiles, sharing his passion for fixing and racing cars. This early exposure cultivated Arnold’s own journey into car enthusiasm, eventually leading him to work on and race cars himself.
Fast forward to 1993. Arnold, now a respiratory therapist working night shifts in California, would find himself browsing the used car ads in the LA Times during his downtime. One particular ad jumped out: “190E 3.2 AMG $18,500.” The price was intriguing, the model name electrifying. Could this be the Baby Hammer from his dreams?
Driven by pure curiosity and a surge of hope, Arnold called the number. The owner confirmed the incredible: it was indeed the Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories Baby Hammer. Without hesitation, and despite a lack of sleep, Arnold drove to Pasadena to see the car. Nerves, excitement, and anticipation filled him as he approached the affluent neighborhood. This was it – the car he had dreamt of for years.
Driving up to the house, he was greeted by a young woman, the current owner. She explained the 190E 3.2 AMG had been a high school graduation gift from her father. Now, college complete, she was moving on to a new Mercedes-Benz SL500. For Arnold, seeing the car in person was breathtaking. It was exactly as he remembered it from the showroom, a pristine example of the Baby Hammer.
Negotiations ensued, and the next day, Arnold became the proud owner of his dream Mercedes-Benz 190E 3.2 AMG. While his ideal license plate “AMG 3.2L” was already taken, he happily settled for “30 AMG.”
His love for the Baby Hammer is unwavering. It’s more than just a car; it’s the embodiment of a long-held dream. The 190E AMG, in Arnold’s words, is the only car that has never let him down, never once stalling.
The car itself is a testament to AMG’s craftmanship of the era. Starting with a standard Mercedes-Benz 190E body, AMG added a full body kit, their signature wheels, and, most importantly, a hand-built 3.2-liter AMG tuned engine. The interior was lavished with Zebrano wood trim. Arnold has meticulously maintained the car in its original showroom condition, preserving the legacy of this special vehicle.
While the 190E 3.2 AMG received a respray in its original color a couple of years prior to this feature, courtesy of Valencia European body shop, the rest of the car remains remarkably original, down to the interior floor mats. From 1996 to 2012, it served as Arnold’s daily driver, a testament to its reliability and enduring appeal. Now, it’s a cherished weekend car, enjoyed on drives through the Santa Clarita hills, bringing “pure satisfaction” and “pure joy” to its owner.
Arnold’s Mercedes-Benz 190E 3.2 AMG is likely a truly unique example, a well-preserved “Baby Hammer” that has garnered attention from major automotive publications, including Road & Track, Automobile, Auto Week, and Petrolicious. It stands as a symbol of passion, perseverance, and the enduring magic of a dream car realized.
