2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, LH front view – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-8.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1735044″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg.jpg” alt=”2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, LH front view – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-7.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-8.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-9.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-10.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-11.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Since trucks, truck-shaped cars, and generally truck-influenced vehicles dominate American roads in the present day, it’s about time I started paying attention to high-end luxurious German truck-like machines in the vehicle graveyards I frequent. Such machines have been easy to find in such places for quite some time now, due to the notoriously quick depreciation of large-dollar German cars that don’t get the meticulous maintenance they deserve, but prior to today, we’d just seen a single BMW X5 in this series. Let’s go right to an AMG for our first Mercedes-Benz SUV: this 2001 W163 ML55 AMG.
<img data-attachment-id="1735038" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml-55-amg/21-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/21-2001-Mercedes-Benz-ML55-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591617864","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0033898305084746","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic hatch badge" data-image-description="
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic hatch badge – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-13.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-1.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1735038″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-1.jpg” alt=”2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic hatch badge – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-1.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-12.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-13.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-14.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-15.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-16.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The price tag on this truck, soon after the turn of the century, started at $65,900 (about $101,150 in 2020 dollars). That was better than twice the cost of a loaded Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer.
<img data-attachment-id="1735046" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml-55-amg/38-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/38-2001-Mercedes-Benz-ML55-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591617968","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic engine" data-image-description="
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic engine – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-18.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-2.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1735046″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-2.jpg” alt=”2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic engine – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-2.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-17.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-18.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-19.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-20.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-21.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>But Ford wouldn’t sell you an engine like this in your Explorer back then: a 5.4-liter OHC V8 rated at 342 horsepower. This engine made the ’01 ML55 the fastest SUV in the world at that time, and it could run the quarter-mile in the high 14s.
<img data-attachment-id="1735028" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml-55-amg/06-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/06-2001-Mercedes-Benz-ML55-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591617794","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0055555555555556","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic gearshift" data-image-description="
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic gearshift – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-23.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-3.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1735028″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-3.jpg” alt=”2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, automatic gearshift – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-3.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-22.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-23.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-24.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-25.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-26.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>As you might expect, no manual transmission could be had in this truck. Five-speed automatics went in all the ML55s.
<img data-attachment-id="1735032" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml-55-amg/10-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/10-2001-Mercedes-Benz-ML55-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591617810","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0019047619047619","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, sticker" data-image-description="
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, sticker – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-28.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-4.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1735032″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-4.jpg” alt=”2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, sticker – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-4.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-27.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-28.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-29.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-30.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-31.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>You know Full Depreciation has arrived for a vehicle when its owner feels comfortable slapping stickers from cannabis dispensaries on the windshield. Such stickers have become very prevalent in the junkyards of weed-crazed Colorado, and I even find junkyard cars with bags of wacky tabacky still inside.
<img data-attachment-id="1735026" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml-55-amg/04-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/04-2001-Mercedes-Benz-ML55-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591617792","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0082644628099174","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, sticker" data-image-description="
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, sticker – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-33.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-5.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1735026″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-5.jpg” alt=”2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, sticker – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-5.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-32.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-33.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-34.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-35.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-36.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>There’s also a sticker from a firearms silencer manufacturer on the dash, because why not?
<img data-attachment-id="1735034" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml-55-amg/17-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/17-2001-Mercedes-Benz-ML55-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591617848","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0047846889952153","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, interior" data-image-description="
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, interior – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-38.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-6.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1735034″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-6.jpg” alt=”2001 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG in Denver junkyard, interior – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-6.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-37.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-38.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-39.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-40.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/junkyard-find-2001-mercedes-benz-ml55-amg-41.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Plenty of the AMG interior goodies had been grabbed by junkyard shoppers prior to my arrival, but hints of this M-Class’s once-opulent high-speed luxury remain visible.
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Like getting together with four friends and shooting yourselves into a Wile E. Coyote mountainside with a giant slingshot!
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