Resurrection of the Red Pig

Few cars in racing history carry a nickname as fitting, or as fearsome, as the Rote Sau (Red Pig). AMG’s hulking 300 SEL 6.3 shocked the motorsport world in 1971, thundering to 2nd place at the Spa 24 Hours against a grid packed with lighter, nimbler rivals. With 428bhp from a tuned 6.3-litre V8 and a top speed north of 160mph, it was as brutal as it was unlikely – a heavyweight luxury saloon turned endurance racer.

The original car’s career was short-lived, lost to history after serving as a tyre test mule for Matra. But its legend only grew, inspiring countless replicas. Now, after a meticulous body-off restoration and transformation completed in July 2025, this faithful recreation emerges. Built with obsessive attention to detail by Mercedes specialists in Germany and the Netherlands, it mirrors the spirit of AMG’s outsider that rewrote expectations. Air suspension, five-speed manual, every nut and bolt renewed – it’s as close to the real Rote Sau as you’ll find today.

An icon reborn, this machine is less replica, more resurrection – a reminder that sometimes, the wildest ideas make the loudest mark. This striking 1975 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 'Rote Sau' will feature as part of Bonhams Zoute Sale on the 12th October 2025. Photos © Bonhams.