Mercedes-AMG Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of 300 SEL 6.8 Spa Win With Three Unique Racecars

The upcoming 24 Hours of Spa marks the 50th anniversary of AMG’s first major success in motorsport and Mercedes is celebrating that victory with three special editions.

Driven by Hans Heyer and Clemens Schikentanz to a class win in 1971, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG performed well enough to finish second overall at the legendary race. Defeating much lighter race cars in the process, the car, which was nicknamed the Rote Sau (Red Pig), raised AMG’s profile and helped ensure that the then-young brand could evolve into the major force that it is today.

To celebrate that victory, Mercedes is producing three “50 Years Legend of Spa” one-off race cars with liveries that pay homage to the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG’s highly recognizable paint scheme. The limited-edition series will consist of one Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, one Mercedes-AMG GT3 (MY 2016), and the current version of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 race cars.

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Inside, each will be finished in Graphite Metallic Matt and will get a carbon-fiber instrument panel on which an anniversary plaque with the signature of AMG-founder Hans Werner Aufrecht will be placed. None of these will be sold with FIA homologation, though, which will allow all three cars to have their exhausts sing at full volume and will allow the AMG 6.3-liter V8 to produce its full 641 hp (650 PS/478 kW).

Apart from that more powerful engine, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 MY2020 will be identical to the racecar that competes on the world’s tracks today. Intriguingly, the other two are being brought back into production for this one-off special edition.

While the 2016 AMG GT3 2016 is chassis number 100 and was brought back for this reason, the gullwing SLS is the really special car here. Out of production since 2015, it’s been made out of the last bodyshell that Mercedes-AMG had in the factory.

“The special editions recall one of the most important milestones in AMG’s corporate history. The 24-hour race at Spa in 1971 stands as an example for the spirit of our brand: daring to take on the impossible, overcoming challenges, and convincing with performance!” says Jochen Hermann, AMG’s technical managing director. “I am very happy that we have been present with our Customer Racing Programme in the Belgian endurance racing classic without exception since 2011.”

As a result of its uniqueness, the SLS AMG GT3 is being sold for €650,000 ($770,000 USD), while the 2020 GT3 is priced at €575,000 ($681,000), and the 2016 GT3 from 2016 costs €500,000 ($592,000). All are sold on slicks and will be displayed at the upcoming 24 Hours of Spa.