Classified of the week: E36 AMG

If you strongly dislike rear tyres but can't quite stretch to the 70-odd thousand that it'll cost to buy the new rubber-melting E63 AMG, here's a rather handsome alternative. It's a 1995 E36 AMG coupe, and it used to belong to Mercedes itself, which used it as a display car at Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands.

So, why has this got TopGear.com's root fizzing so fiercely? Firstly, just LOOK at it. It's wearing a full compliment of AMGery, which includes be-finned bumpers front and rear, state-of-the-nineties side skirts, a three-piece rear spoiler, and a set of AMG three-piece 17-inch split-rim alloys.

Its innards are just as handsome. Well, in a 90210 sort of way. The black leather chairs are heated, electric and remember stuff, it's got a wood/leather steering wheel, and even a wood-finish Pioneer radio. There's also an electric rear blind, factory fitted fire extinguisher, outside temperature gauge, headlamp wash wipe, rear headrests, and a front centre armrest.

Then there's the oily bit. It's got a 272hp, 284lb ft 3.6-litre straight six. It's good for 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds, and it'll keep on going till 155mph, which considering it's coming on for a 20-year-old car isn't half bad.

Finally, there's the rarity. This is one of just 24 UK cars, so the chance you'll run into another stand at comfortably long odds...

Yours for £17,995. Any takers?

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