Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG (W109) 1968-1972

[Matt]

International breakthrough in the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps

The name AMG stands for the initials of the two founders, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher; the third letter in the company name derives from Großaspach, the town where Aufrecht was born. The official designation of the newly founded company of three was “Engineering Office, Design and Testing for the Development of Race Engines”. The company’s headquarters was an old mill in Burgstall near Affalterbach in south-west Germany. The success story of the Swabian company began with specially prepared Mercedes-Benz cars which were entered in racing. The year 1971 saw the company’s international breakthrough when, to everyone’s complete surprise, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG finished first in its class and second in the overall ranking in the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), in which drivers Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickendanz had been taking turns at the wheel of the racing sedan – and AMG became famous overnight.

Customers’ wishes for dynamic handling and individuality provide for upswing

This success boosted the company’s renown enormously and helped AMG in making Mercedes-Benz cars faster and more attractive. The desire for more dynamic handling and individuality, growing in the 1970s, was responsible for a veritable upswing. Before very long, the company’s headquarters in Burgstall became too small and in 1978, AMG, employing 40 people at the time, moved to Affalterbach.

The first Mercedes-Benz tuner, AMG developed into a pioneer for the entire industry in the course of the years. Right from the start, the transfer of technology from motorsport to series production has been part of AMG’s corporate philosophy and has remained a trademark of AMG to this day. The company’s renown was further enhanced by top-class accomplishments in technology and first-grade quality resulting from AMG’s motorsport commitment.

Prominent Mercedes fans discover AMG

And AMG continued to grow. In 1985 plant no. 2 was opened and the 100th member of staff employed. Affalterbach attracted interested parties from all over the world: prominent AMG fans recruited from the spheres of motorsport, movie-making and music, sports, industry and international royalty. The special and – at times – very special wishes of this demanding clientele time and again gave rise to out-of-the-ordinary one-off cars which AMG designed and built with great innovative drive, outstanding passion and all-encompassing expertise.