If you like exclusive limited-run motor cars then Mercedes-Benz has come to your aid with this SLS AMG GT3 “45th Anniversary” model. Only five will be made and you’ll be needing to find €450K to get your hands on one.
Mercedes describes the car as an “exclusive collector’s item” and it has been announced to celebrate the 45th anniversary of in-house tuners AMG. Of course, we all know that AMG was originally an aftermarket tuning house, but Mercedes bought shares back in 1990, before taking full control in 2005.
So, back to this fancypants GT3 model then. AMG brand ambassador, multiple DTM champ and F1 safety car driver Bernd Schneider has been involved in the production process, including assisting the AMG engine fitter with installing the 6.3 litre V8. You’ll even get a personally signed certificate from Bernd confirming as much.
The SLS AMG GT3 45th Anniversary features prominent use of CFRP body panels that have been finished off in designo magno graphite matt paint. The trick paint colour has also been applied to the lightweight 20″ alloys and roll-cage to ensure everything matches nicely. Because you need that in your take home racecar.
And just so you don’t confuse your SLS AMG GT3 with your neighbour’s Gullwing, the limited-run model is adorned with special graphics to let everyone know this is the 45th Anniversary edition.
When you go to the AMG factory in Affalterbach to collect your new toy you’ll be greeted by Schneider who’ll show you what all the buttons do. You’ll also be taken on an exclusive tour of the site. Almost sounds worth it, don’t you think!
Now where have I put that spare AU$570K?
Limited-edition customer sport racing car to mark the 45th birthday: Exclusive collector’s item – The new SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY”
Affalterbach, Oct 08, 2012
With the new SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY”, Mercedes-AMG is presenting an exclusively appointed special series which is aimed at car collectors with a particular penchant for motor racing. The customer sport racing car is being built by hand in a limited edition of no more than five vehicles in Affalterbach. Record DTM champion and AMG brand ambassador Bernd Schneider is involved hands-on in the production process, installing the AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine in the SLS AMG GT3
“45th ANNIVERSARY” together with an AMG engine fitter.
The exclusive collector’s item is also a synonym for the successful AMG Customer Sports Programme: With currently 32 victories in the 2012 Motor Sports Season and the winning of three driver and team titles in the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT Masters and the FIA GT1 World Championship, the race edition of the gullwing car of Mercedes-AMG is an impressive success story as well.
A number of exterior and interior modifications have been carried out for the special SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” model. The body of the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” gleams auspiciously in the new designo magno graphite matt paint finish, for example. To date, this matt paintwork has been exclusive to the SL 65 AMG “45th ANNIVERSARY”, which was unveiled to mark the 45th birthday of Mercedes-AMG at the New York International Auto Show in April 2012. The AMG light-alloy wheels in designo magno graphite complement the body’s matt paintwork to perfection.
Another eye-catching feature is the striking “45 Years of Driving Performance” logo framed in silver on the GT3 racing car’s gullwing doors. The special edition’s logo embodies consummate design right down to the finer points of detail: closer inspection reveals the exposed carbon-fibre structure of the gullwing doors under the matt paintwork. The doors, along with the bonnet, mudguards, boot lid, rear wings, front and rear apron, front splitter and rear diffusor, are produced in the particularly lightweight motorsport material CFRP (CFRP = carbon fibre reinforced plastic).
The interior of the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” evokes a functional racing car atmosphere, refined by high-quality, exclusive details: the steel roll-over cage is finished in matt “designo magno graphite” to match the exterior. The racing car’s dashboard and centre console sport a matt carbon-fibre finish. Effective contrasts are produced by six-point seat belts and a steering wheel spider in silver.
The collector’s item also boasts a seat shell in a high-strength carbon-fibre safety cell on the co-driver’s side. A special badge with a “1 of 5” logo on the seats and the centre console alludes to the limited production run for this racing car. The standard appointments for the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” are rounded off by a high-quality AMG indoor car cover with “45 Years of Driving Performance” logo.
Bernd Schneider as a VIP engine fitter
In keeping with the exclusive exterior and interior equipment and appointments, the engineering under the bonnet is of a similarly exclusive standard. 48 year-old racing driver Bernd Schneider is assisting the responsible AMG engine fitter in installing the naturally aspirated AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine. The special AMG engine badge bearing the signatures of Bernd Schneider and the responsible engine fitter attest to this high-calibre duo’s handiwork. Customers who acquire one of the rare SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” models also receive an exclusive vehicle certificate signed by Bernd Schneider.
The five-times DTM champion, overall ITC winner from 1995 and FIA GT world champion from 1997 works for Mercedes-AMG as a brand ambassador and an instructor at the AMG Driving Academy.
As an established expert in the field of SLS AMG GT3 customer sport Bernd Schneider has carried out the majority of the test drives for the racing version of the gullwing model. He also participates in selected races as part of the AMG driver support set-up. Bernd Schneider competed for various AMG customer teams in 2012, including the 24-hour Dubai race, at the Nürburgring and in Spa-Francorchamps. In the ninth race of the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring, Bernd Schneider took a start position together with Jeroen Bleekemolen (NED) for the AMG Customer Team Black Falcon and won the 4-hour race. After numerous podium positions in the past two years, this was his first victory with the SLS AMG GT3.
Vehicle handover directly at AMG headquarters
Handover of the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” takes place directly at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, where customers are also granted exclusive insights into the AMG world and have an opportunity to sample AMG’s hallmark excellent service and support quality. An in-depth introduction to operation of the new vehicle and its engineering and technology is provided in the new 360 square-metre handover hall. In the case of this special GT3 racing car, this instruction is provided personally by AMG brand ambassador Bernd Schneider.
The programme also includes a tour of the factory, taking in the AMG Performance Studio, where exclusive series of individual AMG cars and one-off vehicles are developed and hand-made. This is followed by a visit to the AMG engine “Manufaktur” (hand-finishing section), where Bernd Schneider and the AMG engine fitter assembled this special AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine by hand. On request, the SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” customer can enjoy a race track coaching session as part of an initiation event with the vehicle.
Price for Germany (incl. 19% VAT):
SLS AMG GT3 “45th ANNIVERSARY” – €446,250
Success on four continents, exemplary safety standard
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 is the racing version of the SLS AMG which has been designed for customer sport. 49 such vehicles for short- and long-distance races have been delivered worldwide to date. In its first season in 2011, the gullwing model quickly established itself as the most successful newcomer of the motorsport year. International customer teams competing on four continents notched up a total of 26 wins. The vehicle’s successful run was crowned when HEICO Motorsport won the team rankings at the FIA GT3 European Championship with its two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s – the first title for the gullwing model in its first full racing season.
In the 2012 motorsport season the SLS AMG GT3 is competing in more than 15 racing series on four continents, including the FIA GT1 World Championship, the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT Masters, the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring and the Blancpain Endurance Series. The triple victory in the 24-hour Dubai race in January 2012, three driver and team titles in the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT Masters, the FIA GT1 World Championship and numerous places on the podium at various short-distance, 4- and 6-hour races demonstrate the SLS AMG GT3’s sporty performance in impressive style. For the time being, the 2012 season comprises 32 victories (1st October 2012).
The SLS AMG GT3 additionally offers an exemplary standard of safety which currently sets standards in GT3 racing. Mercedes-AMG develops and produces the customer sport racing car in close cooperation with HWA AG. HWA is responsible for development and deployment of the Mercedes AMG C-Class Coupés in the DTM on behalf of and in on-going consultation with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.
4 replies on “Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 “45th Anniversary””
You should do your research a bit better before adding in extra details. The safety car driver for F1 is not the current DTM driver Bernd Schneider, but the former racer Bernd Mayländer who has not raced for over eight years.
Since Mercedes returned to F1 as a team owner a couple of years ago, the FIA has prohibited Mayländer from representing them for any advertising purposes, so he certainly wouldn’t be testing new AMG GT3 cars or having his signature put on the engine.
Of course Dave, my mistake. Thank you.
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