Mercedes-AMG is synonymous with driving performance. Today, the brand is known for its preeminence on the track, and for brining those capabilities to the street. In 2017, AMG hit a major milestone: the brand celebrated its 50th anniversary.
What’s behind a brand like AMG? Where does a reputation like AMG’s come from? What is Mercedes-AMG up to today? And how did the brand celebrate its 50th birthday? Keep reading to find out.
AMG’s 50-Year History
AMG began with two engineers who had a relentless passion for motorsports. In the early 1960s, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher were working for Daimler-Benz and spending their spare time in Aufrecht’s basement developing racing engines. In 1967, they decided to leave Daimler-Benz and start their own company with an exclusive focus on developing superior race cars and bringing that technology to road vehicles. AMG was born. A for Aufrecht; M for Melcher; and G for Großaspach (Aufrecht’s hometown).
In 1971 AMG had its first major racing success, when the 300 SEL 6.8 won its class and came in second overall at 24 Hours of Spa. The 300 SEL was a production sedan, and yet, with its AMG tuning, it beat out dozens of light-weight race cars.
So the AMG sensation began.
It continued in the 1980s with the 300 CE 6.0, the car American fans dubbed “The Hammer.” It got its nickname for good reason too. It was one of the fastest cars on the road at the time.
The Hammer got the attention of Mercedes, and by the 90s Mercedes had an exclusive contract with AMG.
Ever since, Mercedes and AMG have been working together to create dominant cars for the track, and superior performance vehicles for the road.
Mercedes-AMGs of Today
At Exclusive Detail, we’ve had the privilege of equipping many Mercedes-AMG vehicles with paint protection over the course of AMG’s 50th year. The vehicles we’ve served have run the gamut of the Mercedes-AMG roster.
AMG Performance in the Mercedes Line-Up
The most common AMGs on the road are performance versions of vehicles in the Mercedes line-up. Below is a Mercedes-AMG E 63. This car proves that you don’t have to compromise on speed and performance even if you’re looking for a spacious wagon. We performed extensive paint correction on this vehicle, and applied Paint Protection Film and a Ceramic Coating.
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The AMG model in Mercedes’ popular G-Class lineup is the G 63. The AMG G 63 is a unique commingling of luxury and brute force in an SUV package. As Mercedes says, “the Mercedes-AMG G 63 turns any terrain into a sophisticated driving experience.”
Below is a G 63 we enjoyed having in our shop recently.
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AMG’s Own Road Car: The SLS
2010 saw the first vehicle built from the ground up entirely by AMG: The SLS. The highest performing, most exclusive, and most expensive SLS produced was the Black Series, with fewer than 200 in the United States. As Car and Driver puts it, the SLS Black Series is what happens when AMG “tires of building mere 500-plus-hp commuters and pumps out something that packs the fury and power of a supernova” (Car and Driver). Below is a 2014 Mercedes AMG SLS Black Series that we wrapped in Paint Protection Film.
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AMG’s Current Supercar: The GT
In 2014, AMG produced its second in-house supercar: The GT. The GT was created with an intentional aim to steal the hearts of Audi or Porsche customers, and it has made progress in accomplishing that goal, having grown in production each year since its conception.
The GT has multiple variants, many of which we’ve had in the shop in recent weeks. Below is a GT-S, GT-R, and GT-C we had in the shop recently.
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AMG’s Anniversary Present: The GT C Edition 50
What better way to celebrate 50 years of superior performance vehicles than with a superior performance vehicle?
That’s exactly what Mercedes-AMG has done with the GT C Edition 50. The limited edition model commemorates AMGs 50th anniversary, and comes in a special new paint called Graphite Grey Magno. Only 500 AMG GT C Edition 50s were produced.
Below is a GT C Edition 50 we wrapped in Paint Protection Film.
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Paint Protection for Mercedes-AMG
Chances are, if you’re thinking about purchasing a Mercedes-AMG, you value the integrity of the brand across history. Premium paint protection (such as Paint Protection Film, a Ceramic Coating, or both) honors that value by preserving the integrity of your AMGs paint for the future. And that’s what we’re all about at Exclusive Detail.
If you’d like to learn more about Paint Protection Film, read our article on the history and technology behind the product. If you’d like to learn more about Ceramic Coatings, we discuss their benefits and limitations here. Both products can be used together as well for maximum protection and preservation.
If you’re in the Charlotte area and looking for premium paint protection, schedule an appointment with us. We’d love to partner with you for the good of your car.
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