AMG Celebrates 35 Years
Published: 30th October 2002
The company was formed in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and his partner Eberhard Melcher (M). The "G" is from Großaspach, Aufrecht's birthplace. AMG first described itself as "engineering, construction and testing specialists in the development of racing engines". These experts had their first base in an old mill in the village of Burgstall (to the north-east of Stuttgart).
Initially, the company concentrated on building racing cars based on Mercedes-Benz's 300 SE, and competed in European touring car races. Their first victory came in 1971, when an AMG-modified 300 SEL 6.8 won its class (and came second overall) in the 24 hour race at Belgium's famous Spa Francorchamps circuit. This on-track success has continued since then, most recently with the latest CLK-DTM driven by ex-Formula One star Jean Alesi.
Success wasn't just limited to the track. In the 1970s discerning customers began to develop a taste for developing their premium road cars. Based on their race engineering knowledge, the company earned an enviable reputation for producing high quality refinements and tuning for Mercedes-Benz cars.
Over their first three and a half decades, AMG passed a number of significant technological milestones:
| 1967 |
Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and Erhard Melcher (M) found their company at the Old Mill in Großaspach (G), giving it the official title "Engineering office for the Design and Testing of Racing Engines". |
| 1971 | The first major sporting triumph for AMG: the AMG Mercedes 300 SEL 6.9 driven by Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickendanz creates a surprise by winning in its class at the Spa 24 Hours and finishing second overall. |
| 1978 |
The Old Mill in Großaspach becomes too small for the company, which now boasts customers all over the world. AMG and its 40 staff move to Affalterbach. |
| 1988 |
AMG partners Daimler-Benz in its motor racing comeback in the German Touring Car Masters. |
| 1989 |
AMG is the most successful team in the German Touring Car Championship: Klaus Ludwig and Johnny Cecotto score seven wins. |
| 1990 |
AMG's Plant III is opened in Affalterbach. The company now has a staff of 400 and a cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz, which extends beyond the motor racing sphere. |
| 1992 |
AMG driver Klaus Ludwig takes the German Touring Car Championship title. |
| 1993 |
The first vehicle jointly developed on the basis of the cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz goes on the market: the Mercedes C 36 AMG. The name AMG is so widely known that the Patent Office registers it as a trademark. |
| 1994 |
Once again Klaus Ludwig for AMG is the champion driver in the German Touring Car Championship. The US version of the Mercedes C 36 AMG is developed and type-approved in 10 months. |
| 1995 |
An AMG driver takes the German Touring Car Championship title for the third time, as well as winning the first ever ITC title. In both cases the driver is Bernd Schneider. |
| 1996 |
AMG is runner-up in the International Touring Car Championship with Bernd Schneider. At the Geneva Motor Show, AMG unveils the E 50 AMG and makes the transition from a component plant to a component and vehicle plant. |
| 1997 |
AMG celebrates new production milestones with 5000 units of the C 36 AMG and 2000 units of the E 50 AMG. The successor models, the C 43 AMG and E 55 AMG, are launched following the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Bernd Schneider in the Mercedes CLK-GTR is champion driver and AMG Mercedes takes the team title in the FIA GT championship. |
| 1998 |
A road-going version of the CLK-GTR is built in a limited edition of 25 units. AMG-Mercedes wins all 10 races in the FIA GT Championship. Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta take the championship title. |
| 1999 |
Mercedes-AMG GmbH commences business on 01.01.99. The company is jointly managed by Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard (President) and Domingos Piedade. Some 5000 vehicles are sold world-wide. |
| 2000 |
Sales reach a record level of 11,500 vehicles, the most popular model being the ML 55 AMG with over 4500 units sold. Ulrich Bruhnke becomes President. |
| 2001 |
Sales record broken again: 18,500 Mercedes-AMG models are sold. Most popular model is the C 32 AMG with around 3800 vehicles sold. Market launch of the SL 55 AMG with 368 kW/500 hp. |
| 2002 |
The number of staff increases to around 540, market launch of the CLK 55 AMG. |