It was the most unlikely racing car ever to take to the Spa circuit's tarmac, but the AMG 300 SEL 6.8 managed a class win. Nicknamed the "Red Pig", it also achieved second overall in the gruelling 24-hour race.
Based on Mercedes' luxury saloon of the period, the AMG version upped power from the 6.3-litre V8 from 250- to 428bhp and capacity to 6.8 litres. This was enough for a 164mph top speed and put the car sixth on the grid in 1971.
Forty years on, the Red Pig is back at Spa to mark its anniversary and meet its great grandson in the shape of an SLS AMG GT3 decked out in the same racing colours. The SLS will be driven in the Spa 24 Hours race by Kenneth Heyer, the son of Hans Heyer who was one of the original drivers of the Red Pig.
Heyer senior said: "Forty years after our class victory and second overall place, I think it is a great idea to enter the Spa-Francorchamps race with the SLS AMG GT3 in the same look as 'my' 300 SEL 6.8 AMG. Naturally I wish Kenneth every success and will be delighted if he wins at least second place."
Alisdair Suttie - 29 Jul 2011