Before he retired, Mercedes’ design chief revealed a secret the brand kept hidden for years about its legendary “Red Pig.” If you’re an AMG performance fan, you already know the story of the outrageous 1971 Mercedes 300 SEL race car—an unlikely, heavyweight luxury sedan turned motorsport shocker that stunned the world with its pace and sheer presence. What no one saw coming is that Mercedes quietly created a modern “continuation” concept inspired by that beast and kept it out of the spotlight until now.
The “Red Pig” Successor Steps Into The Light
For years, ArabGT has revisited the heritage of the original Red Pig, but one key detail stayed buried in Mercedes-Benz archives—until recently. Gordon Wagener, Mercedes’ longtime design chief who has just retired after a three-decade run shaping the brand’s modern look, shared images of a hidden show car: a contemporary reimagining of the classic icon. He even dubbed it “The Unseen Showcar,” a name that fits a project kept behind closed doors for so long.
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A Design That Blends Old-School Presence With Modern Tech
Wagener’s secret concept doesn’t merely nod to the past—it translates it into a bold modern form. Up front, it wears a massive chrome grille that feels theatrical in the best way, paired with a modern take on the original’s upright headlamp theme using advanced LED lighting. The old sponsor decals are gone, but the spirit is still there through purposeful details, including the yellow “M.B. Design Heritage” script and the number 35 on the doors—clear, respectful callbacks to the race car that started the legend. Completing the look are five-spoke wheels with a motorsport flavor, finished in deep red paint that keeps the “Pig” attitude alive without slipping into nostalgia-for-nostalgia’s-sake.
Why It Was Called The “Red Pig” And Why It Matters
Before AMG became an official part of Mercedes-Benz, it was a standalone tuning and engineering outfit willing to do what others wouldn’t. In 1971, its engineers took a big, luxurious sedan and turned it into a race car—an idea that sounded borderline absurd at the time. Then came the moment that made history: despite its size, the 300 SEL finished second overall at the Spa 24 Hours, beating smaller, lighter machines and proving that bold engineering could embarrass convention.
The original car’s story ended in a surprisingly unglamorous way. After retiring from racing, it was reportedly sold to an airline for aircraft landing-gear tire testing, because it was large and fast enough to help simulate landing speeds. Eventually, it was reduced to scrap—an almost tragic end for a car that had become a motorsport myth.
A Quiet Farewell For A Design Icon
The reveal lands at a symbolic moment, arriving alongside Wagener’s retirement after 30 years of defining Mercedes’ design language. He also documented this hidden concept—and other rare design treasures—in his new book, Iconic Design.
Now the question practically asks itself: if Mercedes decided to build a limited-run production version of this modern Red Pig, could it become one of AMG’s biggest modern-era hits?
