Sales figures clearly show the demand for luxury cars of all kinds is increasing and more buyers than ever willing to spend extra for a unique vehicle.
For their part, carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz and its AMG subsidiary are glad to oblige with limited edition offerings that are an instant collectible destined with auction house destination in its future.
For its 55th anniversary, AMG is offering an exclusive race car, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Edition 55. The sprint spec version of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 costs about $441,000 before taxes and the limited edition is expected to cost more.
How much more? Think of it this way, if you have to ask about the price of the new limited Edition 55, you probably cannot afford it.
Limited Edition with very limited production
Only five units of the special series will be built by hand in the AMG plant in Affalterbach, Germany, with unique technical characteristics and distinctive equipment features, making it a collectors’ piece from the minute it leaves the factory, according to Mercedes-Benz AMG.
For the handful of buyers, AMG will include an IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “AMG” Edition 55 with the chassis number engraved on to its own special box to complement the vehicle’s striking design and motor sports-oriented features.
“With the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Edition 55, we acknowledge the 55-year history of our brand once again this year,” said Christoph Sagemüller, head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. “It is a reverence to the many unforgettable motorsport moments we have been able to collect in over five decades at the racetracks of this world.
“We have limited the production of this special edition: there are only five unites, all equipped with high-quality special features and added elements. That makes the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Edition 55 to a collector’s piece that can hardly be exceeded in terms of exclusivity.”
Special edition carries on racing heritage
As an homage to its rich motorsport heritage, from the sensational class win of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG in the 24 Hours of Spa in 1971 up to the historic 1-2 by the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in this year’s running of the same race, Mercedes-AMG now presents its current GT3 Customer Racing car in a limited edition.
To guarantee and document the minimal production run, a specific range of numbers, such as “GT3.190-55,” was created for the chassis numbers of the five units. Beyond that, the special characteristics compare to the car it is based on.
An optimized AMG 6.3-liter V-8 engine delivers 650 horsepower, amounting to around 100 hp more than the FIA version. The performance exhaust system made of Inconel comes without a silencer, generating an even more characteristic sound pattern as a result.
The special finish in Manufaktur alpine grey with red accents complements the matte finish of the aero components in visible carbon on the front diffuser, rear diffuser, rear wing including end plates, flicks, louvre, radiator grille and side skirts.
Special features part of limited edition
The Affalterbach crest is painted on the doors of the slick-shod special edition. Next to the AMG logo, the 55-year anniversary logo also adorns the rear wing.
In the functional racing cockpit, the seat embroidery includes the anniversary symbol and plaques with “Edition of 55 – 1 OF 5” inscription is found on the center console and the carbon seat. Matte Anthracite metallic is used in the interior with the high-quality visible carbon elements harmoniously blending in, from the door sills, door covers and center console to the dashboard. Another optical feature in the interior are the seat belts with silver accents.
The cockpit of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Edition 55 also features a Bosch DDU 11 has a high-resolution graphic display to show relevant information like speed, engine speed, operating temperatures, lap times, gear and shift indication and additional information.