To understand the history of the iconic Mercedes-AMG, we need to go back in time. Where did AMG come from? Who formed it? How is Mercedes-AMG different to the standard Mercedes-Benz? And does it still exist today?
Take a drive with us down memory lane as we deep dive into all things Mercedes-AMG.
Before we leap into the history, first, what does AMG even stand for? Well, it’s simple really, the name is an acronym for its founders Aufrecht and Melcher who dreamed up the concept in Großaspach, Germany.
Back in the 1960s, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, were working in the Development Department at Daimler-Benz. Yet, upon the company’s disbandment of motorsports the two engineers’ love for performance cars couldn’t be halted. Instead, the two engineers tweaked and optimised the 300 SE racing engine at Aufrecht’s home in Großaspach, before eventually sending the engine off for its first race in 1965.
Whilst it might be a while before the Mercedes-AMG became a household name, the first shot at success came in the racing world during the 1960s. Remember the optimised 300 SE that Aufrecht and Melcher developed? The model went on to win 10 times in the German Touring Car Championship – and the Mercedes-AMG brand was born!
The founders Aufrecht and Melcher took a step away to form their own business optimising racing vehicles. Throughout the 1970s, the duo went from strength to strength before eventually becoming an engine manufacturer in 1984.
By the late 1980’s the pair and their AMG brand started to work once more with Daimler-Benz as official racing partners. AMG had continued to see success on the racing track in this period including the insertion of the 5.0-litre V8 in an E-Class Coupe, which received worldwide fame under the nickname “The Hammer”. However, it was the 50 DTM victories between 1988 and 1993 with the Mercedes 190 that really helped catapult the AMG brand to lofty new heights.
From then on AMG became synonymous with racing success all over the world.
1990 was a pivotal year as AMG and Daimler-Benz signed the cooperation contract, this was huge for AMG as the brand now had access to Mercedes-Benz worldwide network. Shortly after this, the brands launched their first joint car, the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG.
Through a long-lasting partnership, Mercedes-AMG now employs over 2,000 people across the world. This has resulted in a number of road vehicle models with over 50 Mercedes-AMG performance vehicles in its roster! Nowadays, there will most likely be a Mercedes-AMG version of every model.
But the brand has of course maintained a firm foundation in the world of motorsport and the F1. With decades of experience under its belt, Mercedes-AMG is at the forefront of F1 under the guise of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team.
If you’re in the middle of picking out your next or first Mercedes-Benz you will likely have come up against a number of makes, models (and a whole lot of acronyms). So how do you determine which AMG is the right one for you?
You can guarantee that the AMG Model of a Mercedes-Benz will keep ‘performance’ and premium driving experience at the heart of its offering.
Noticeable performance differences compared to other models might see a more powerful engine.
Where you see the AMG Line you can expect to see improved or more luxurious cosmetic elements such as higher spec trims or even diamond grilles!