Cars Destined To Become Collectibles: The Only Minivan AMG Ever Made

Mar. 15, 2016 11:35 AM ET byJared Rosenholtz /16 Comments

An AMG 6.2-liter V8-powered MINIVAN?! Yeah, they made that!

Most people agree that minivans just aren't cool. That is why back in 2007, Mercedes-Benz decided to market its R-Class as a sports tourer rather than a minivan. The R-Class was not quite a minivan and not quite an SUV. One thing is for sure: It was weird. Almost all of the R-Classes sold in the US came with a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline or diesel engine making 305 or 268 hp, respectively. However, what you may not remember is that Mercedes also sold a V8-powered AMG version of its sports tourer.

Yep, you read that right! In 2007, Mercedes decided to hand off its pseudo-minivan to AMG. The result wasn't just a slow Mercedes festooned with AMG badging. No, the R63 AMG packed the 6.2-liter V8 from the CLK 63. In the R-Class, the hand-built M156 engine produced 503 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. This propelled the world's craziest minivan to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and a limited top speed of 155 mph. These are 911 type numbers, people! If you are looking for a practical family cruiser that can handle itself in a drag race with most sports cars, this is the most interesting choice. The R-Class can seat six people in luxury and looks way better than most minivans.

With luxury Mercedes features like heated and ventilated seats, the R63 is comparable even to today's minivans and SUVs. But you will be hurt at the pump by the thirsty V8 (you'll struggle to break 15 mpg). The R63 was never really marketed by Mercedes-Benz.Like the bonkersE63 wagon, the R63 was only available as a special order. The car originally cost around $90,000. Unfortunately, because the car was so rare, finding a used one is extremely difficult. Wait long enough and you may be lucky enough to find one for less than $40,000 today. This may sound like a lot for a nine-year old Mercedes, butjust rememberthat a new, 550-hp GLE63 S 4MATIC costs over $100,000.

When you think about how expensive today's fast SUVs are, the R63 starts to sound like a real bargain. We doubt that anything like the R63 AMG will ever be built again, and we frankly can't believe that it was ever built at all. If you want to own the one and only AMG powered minivan, this is your car!