45 years of high performance with Mercedes-Benz AMG

Defining the gold standard in the exclusive luxury performance market, Mercedes-AMG is the high-performance brand of the Mercedes Car Group that was established 45 years ago by two passionate engineers: Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher. Their initials provided the letters “A” and “M” in AMG, while the letter “G” is derived from Aufrecht’s birthplace, Grossaspach.

The founders of AMG established the company in 1967 with a simple goal in mind: develop high-performance racing engines for Mercedes-Benz automobiles. They began as a small company tuning Mercedes-Benz cars, surprised the world after winning one race after another.

Throughout the next four decades, the company grew and evolved from a small aftermarket tuning company to the performance division of the Mercedes Car Group known today. By 1976, its headquarters had to move from Burgstall to Affalterbach in Germany to accommodate the growing number of dedicated employees who developed high-performance engines.

In 1987, the Mercedes-Benz 300 E 5.6 AMG was introduced, which became known to racing fans as the Hammer and to driving enthusiasts as the vehicle that put AMG on the map. AMG grew even bigger on that map as it signed an agreement with Daimler-Benz in 1990 and formalized its partnership with Mercedes-Benz in 1999, continuously winning more races in between.

In celebration of AMG’s 45th year, Mercedes-AMG presented an exclusively appointed special series for car collectors with a penchant for motor racing: the SLS AMG GT3 “45th Anniversary.” The customer sport racing car is being built by hand in a limited edition of no more than five in Affalterbach.

The exclusive special edition has a number of exterior and interior modifications. Its body gleams auspiciously in the newly design magno graphite matte paint finish as shown at the New York International Auto Show in April 2012.

The AMG light-alloy wheels in design magno graphite complement the body’s matte paintwork. It bears a “45 Years of Driving Performance” logo framed in silver on the GT3 racing car’s gullwing doors. The edition’s logo embodies consummate design right down to the finer points of detail: closer inspection reveals the exposed carbon-fibre structure of the gullwing doors under the matt paintwork. The doors, along with the bonnet, mudguards, boot lid, rear wings, front and rear apron, front splitter and rear diffusor, are produced in the particularly lightweight motorsport material CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic).

The interior of the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” evokes a functional racing car atmosphere, refined by high-quality, exclusive details: the steel rollover cage is finished in matt “designo magno graphite” to match the exterior. The racing car’s dashboard and center console sport a matt carbon-fibre finish. Effective contrasts are produced by 6-point seat belts and a steering wheel spider in silver.

The collector’s item also boasts a seat shell in a high-strength carbon-fiber safety cell on the co-driver’s side. A special badge with a “1 of 5” logo on the seats and the center console alludes to the limited production run for this racing car. The standard appointments for the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” are rounded off by a high-quality AMG indoor car cover with “45 Years of Driving Performance” logo.

To top it all off, the special AMG engine badge bears the signature of 5-time DTM champion, 1995 overall ITC winner, and 1997 FIA GT world champion Bernd Schneider, who is involved hands-on in-the-production process of the installation of the AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine in this special edition.

The handover of the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” to its five owners will take place at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, where its new owners will be granted exclusive insights into the AMG world and have an opportunity to sample AMG’s hallmark excellent service and support quality. On request, the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” customer can also enjoy a race track coaching session as part of an initiation event with the vehicle.

AMG began with the passion for high-performance Mercedes-Benz cars and this very passion is continued and passed on to enthusiasts and owners of Mercedes-AMG vehicles. Throughout the world, the word AMG continues to stand for a unique driving experience with cutting-edge technology, power, exclusivity and highest levels of luxury.

For more details, contact Grace Enriquez, brand manager of Mercedes-Benz at 784-5127 or [email protected].