This W 140 costs 20 times more than the S 600

Only six Mercedes S 72 AMGs were likely produced. Number 002 is currently being sold at a bargain price piese auto online.

This W 140 costs 20 times more than the S 600

There are rare cars. Some are so rare that it's not even officially known how many were produced - this seemingly ordinary Mercedes S-Class is one of them. Although the black W 140 looks like a normal S 500, it is anything but ordinary!

The S-Class offered by Mercedes specialist Auto Leitner is an ultra-rare S 72 AMG, of which only six were produced by AMG in the 1990s. However, this number cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty, as the cars are designated as S 600 according to the chassis number. This practice was normal for AMG at the time, but today makes it almost impossible to obtain reliable production numbers for these particularly rare V12 models from Affalterbach.

V12 engine with a displacement of 7212 cm³

And no, that’s not a typo – the S 72 is the early version of the equally rare S 73 (also offered as the SL 73 and CL 73). The differences between the S 72 and S 73 are minor: the V12, known internally as the M120, was displaceable to 7,212 cc in the S 72, while the S 73 had the best V12 development with 7,291 cc. Both the S 72 and the S 73 have 525 hp and 740 Nm of maximum torque, although the power figures can vary depending on the source. The fact is that there is plenty of power. For comparison: in the base model, customers initially had to make do with 408 hp (600 SE) and later with 394 hp (S 600). The M120 is the same base engine used in the Pagani Zonda, but with the designation M 297. The AMG treatment of the S-Class includes an exhaust system with two rectangular tailpipes, an AMG speedometer with a scale of up to 300 km/h, multi-piece AMG aerodynamic wheels and the removal of the speed limiter.

In the case of the 1994 S 72 AMG shown here, AMG also fitted individual rear seats and xenon headlights, which the dealer says is even noted in the vehicle documents. The equipment is – typical of a top model – very extensive and should leave much to be desired. The colour combination “blue-black metallic” (code 199) with exclusive two-tone leather is both classic and elegant.

115,000 kilometers mileage

This AMG definitely doesn't look like it has 115,470 kilometers on the clock. Both inside and out, the S-Class looks extremely well-maintained. This car is German, with an official AMG certificate, which should make it even more interesting for collectors.

The price is super-salty.

In March 2025, this very S 72 AMG was offered for sale by Broad Arrow as part of the “The Amelia Auction 2025.” The estimated price at the time was between $175,000 and $225,000, but the car never sold.

Half a year later, Auto Leitner from the Netherlands is asking 700,000 leva for the same car. And although the steering wheel has been replaced, lettering has been added, and the S 72 has been extensively refurbished since the auction, the price still seems very high. On the other hand, there is no other S 72 AMG for sale at the moment. Potential buyers may have missed their chance to take advantage of a bargain earlier this year.

Anyone who wants to drive a W 140 with a V12 engine for little money should choose the standard 600 SE or S 600, which are available at prices starting at around 30,000 BGN.

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

There are rare cars

The S-Class offered by Mercedes specialist Auto Leitner is an ultra-rare S 72 AMG, of which only six were produced by AMG in the 1990s