Most automotive enthusiasts know the Mercedes-AMG brand, but few know its fascinating history. This article will tell the story of two unknown engineers who went on to change history.
Mercedes-AMG is the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz. AMG vehicles are typically engineered for performance with customized, upgraded engines. They also have enhanced handling and a distinctive, more aggressive look.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re already familiar with Mercedes’ high-performance brand or you wound up here trying to find an answer to the question, “What is an AMG?” You’ll be captivated by the story of two engineers who started as unknowns and went on to achieve greatness.
The Origins of AMG
AMG was conceptualized by two Mercedes engineers, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, who were tasked with building an engine for a high-performance race car. Their names, plus Aufrecht’s hometown of Grossaspach, inspired the moniker AMG.
When Aufrecht and Melcher started at Mercedes-Benz, the company was still known as Daimler-Benz. Soon before Aufrecht and Melcher were able to unveil their new performance engine, Daimler-Benz decided to halt motorsports activities, but the two engineers didn’t give up.
Aufrecht and Melcher moved their operation to Aufrecht’s house. In 1965, their hard work paid off. The pair entered their 300 SE engine in the German Touring Car Championship. The engine didn’t just perform up to their expectations. It went on to win ten races.
In 1967, Aufrecht and Melcher left Daimler-Benz. It was then that AMG was formed in a former mill in Burgstall with the explicit intention of using what the pair had learned from designing their race car to make road cars faster.
AMG: The Early Years
The first project Aufrecht and Melcher took on after forming AMG was turning a different 300 SE sedan into a race car featuring their newly designed 6.8L engine, the Red Pig. The vehicle debuted in 1971, winning first place in its class at 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
It was in the early years of AMG that the company developed its customization discipline. The early victory of the Red Pig paved the way for AMG to make a name for itself in motorsports. Nine years later, the company relocated to Affalterbach, where it’s still headquartered to this day.
AMG Officially Teams Up With Daimler-Benz
In 1984, AMG became an engine manufacturer. Melcher developed an independent cylinder head with four valves, and in 1986, AMG put the resulting 5.0L V8 in a Mercedes E-class coupe that came to be known as The Hammer.
It was also in the 1980s that Daimler-Benz and AMG began working together in an official capacity. They started as racing partners, forming a successful association and winning 50 DTM victories between 1988 and 1993 with their 190 race car.
AMG Makes It Into the Mainstream
In 1990, AMG’s contract with Daimler-Benz AG concluded. AMG products began to be sold and maintained this same year through Mercedes-Benz’s network of company-owned dealerships and service outlets.
In 1999, Aufrecht transferred his majority stake in the company to DaimlerChrysler AG, and the motorsport department was assigned to Aufrecht’s firm, H.W.A. GmbH.
Meredes-AMG Today
Today, Mercedes-AMG GmbH continues to uphold the vision and integrity of AMG’s founders. Every vehicle manufactured by the company promises outstanding performance and quality.
The Mercedes-AMG model line is more extensive than it has ever been. Models include sedans, coupes, SUVs, roadsters, and the well-known Mercedes-AMG GT.
