Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG was a racing car built on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 saloon and developed by AMG in 1971. It was the first car of the then young German tuning firm and is better known by its nickname Red Pig, in German Rote Sau, which it earned at the 24 Hours of Spa in July 1971, where it finished second overall and won its class. Its V8 was bored out to 6,834 cubic centimetres and produced 428 horsepower, and by shedding bumpers, glass and heavy doors it was reduced to 1,635 kilograms. It reached 265 kilometres per hour in tests and 285 on the Hunaudieres straight at Le Mans in 1972. Five were built, three for racing and two for testing, and none was sold. A European rule change banning engines above five litres ended its main career in 1972.