50 years ago the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps put AMG on the motorsport map, literally, overnight. At 3pm on 24 July 1971 almost 80 touring cars started the race. Right in the middle of the field there was a mighty Mercedes-Benz luxury saloon of the W 109 model series driving the course in the Ardennes. It was not a works racing car, but a vehicle used by the engineering firm founded by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in 1967.

AMG comprehensively prepared this predecessor of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for the long-distance race; the emphasis was on the engine and chassis. The technical data were tremendous for racing touring cars of the time: over 400bhp, a top speed of almost 165mph and a 0 to 60mph of around 6 seconds. AMG 300 SEL 6.8 was the name of the racing car, nicknamed ‘The Red Pig’ – even if the star emblem at the front clearly indicated the brand from Stuttgart. Drivers Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz took the ‘The Red Pig’ to sensational second place finish overall and secured victory in their class.

As homage to the legendary red saloon car that defeated the opposition with the considerably lighter race cars back in 1971, Mercedes-AMG has developed the limited edition ‘50 Years Legend of Spa’. It includes all three GT3 generations that have been available since 2010. For maximum exclusivity, the number has been limited to one of each.

The limited edition consists of one Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, one Mercedes-AMG GT3 (2016) and the current evolution version of the Mercedes-AMG GT3. All three race cars are ready-to-race one-offs with special characteristics and unique features. Characteristic is the livery that recalls the iconic look of the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG from 50 years ago. Next to the red basic colour, the surfaces for starting numbers and sponsors have been unmistakably inspired by the race participation at Spa at the time.

Mercedes celebrates 'The Red Pig'