From 1971 until its demise in mid-2019, German tuner and manufacturer Hartge focused on upgrading BMW, MINI and Range Rover vehicles.
The Hartge brothers achieved fame for their wild engine swaps, which mostly consisted in taking massive engines from larger BMWs, tune them extensively, and then shoehorn them into smaller models.
Hartge pushed the engineering boundaries of what was possible, all while applying fantastic attention to detail. But did you know Hartge once put a BMW M88 engine in a Mercedes-Benz 300E from the W124 generation? Yes, the brothers did that only once and they named the automotive Frankenstein the Hartge F1.
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It happened in 1988, when the aftermarket specialists decided the chassis of the W124-generation Mercedes-Benz 300E was a good match for BMW’s M88 straight-six engine. Yes, you read that right, a Mercedes-Benz powered by a rival engine that had achieved fame earlier on in the BMW M1, M635CSi and E28 M5.
Hartge ditched the Merc’s stock 180 PS (178 HP) engine and transmission, replacing them with the M88 unit and a manual gearbox from the E24 BMW 6 Series. As you can imagine, the BMW engine was not left in stock form.
It was bored out to 3,545 cc from 3,453 cc, gaining a higher compression ratio and a maximum output of 330 PS (325 HP) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque in the process. The ensuing performance was spectacular for the era: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) took just over 6 seconds and the top speed reached 300 km/h (186 mph).
Hartge also revised the chassis by fitting a Bilstein sports suspension to improve handling. The interior was upgraded too with a new wood trim on the dashboard, center console and front doors, as well as sports seats wrapped in a custom upholstery and a Hartge steering wheel.
Many regard the Hartge F1 as the German company’s ultimate creation and it’s hard to argue with that. After all, we’re talking about one of Mercedes-Benz’s most iconic sedans powered by one of BMW’s most famous engines.
You’ll have a unique opportunity to buy this one-off car on June 24-27 at the RM Sotheby’s Essen auction. The Hartge F1 comes in unrestored condition, with 131,307 kilometers (81,590 miles) on the odometer. It’s offered with various articles documenting its history and, more importantly, without reserve.
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