First Epic Mercedes 190E Restomod From AMG Founder Isn’t For Sale, But You Could Own It

You might remember the HWA EVO from last year – a Mercedes 190E restomod built by one of the founders of AMG – that broke the car internet when it was announced. Since it showed off its crazy box-flared arches, we’ve been learning bits and pieces about the Evo, but it’s now been let slip that the very first car, chassis 000, will be going up for public auction on July 27 at RM Sotheby’s Tegernsee Auction, held in association with the Concours of Elegance Germany.

This may be the only chance you and I have as mere mortals to get our hands on one, as the rest of the 100 units are currently being allocated to customers who’ve already applied. But don’t go thinking you’ll snag the deal of the century, with a base price of 714,000 euros (plus VAT), or approximately $780,000 at the time of writing for the HWA EVO, we don’t see the hammer coming down on chassis 000 at anything less than a million.

Handbuilt Perfection, Signed Documentation

Chassis 000 will be the first of the 100 cars to be hand-built by HWA and, as the first, will serve as the official blueprint for the remaining cars. As such, every step in the process will be meticulously documented. Adding to the prestige of owning chassis 000, the new owner will receive signed copies of certain documents, with the originals being retained in the HWA archive alongside the extensive documentation of the process.

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Turbo V6 Power And Wild Bodywork

The HWA EVO’s wild bodywork – penned by Khyzyl Saleem – steals the show at first glance, but it’s what’s beneath the surface that’ll set your hair alight. First, HWA isn’t stripping down genuine 190E 2.5-16 Evo II models that inspire it, but ordinary 190Es. Each body goes through an intense restoration process, after which HWA will shoehorn in a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine – likely from the old AMG C43 – with a standard 444 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.

The motor will be mounted behind the front axle for a 50/50 weight distribution, and send its twist solely to the rear wheels through a manual gearbox – a six-speed transaxle. Leaked order documents indicate that an available Affalterbach package will up outputs to 493 hp.

At each corner, double wishbone suspension will help HWA dial in the handling balance precisely, while large wheels housing 15-inch front and 14.2-inch rear brake discs will be shod in performance tires. Lightweight carbon fiber bodywork is also part of the package, aiding HWA in achieving the target weight for the EVO of 2,976 pounds.

While the company is still fielding inquiries from the public for orders (the HWA EVO will be delivered globally), none of the remaining allocations will be quite as special as chassis 000. For those who do have a spare $780,000 lying around, the first customer deliveries are scheduled to occur by the end of 2025.