Mercedes-Benz: AMG Cars & Racing 1900-1955 3 Book Set

Explore the thrilling history of AMG, the performance brand that transformed Mercedes-Benz from a symbol of refined luxury into a fierce motorsport competitor and producer of some of the most desirable performance vehicles on the planet. Written by renowned automotive historian Brian Long, Mercedes-Benz: The AMG Cars charts the full journey from the brand's unofficial beginnings to its modern-day status as an icon of high-performance engineering.

Discover how two ex-Mercedes engineers, Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, began handcrafting race engines in a garage, and how their tiny operation became a global performance powerhouse. With deep dives into key models like the AMG Hammer, groundbreaking moments in DTM and Group C racing, and the official tie-up with Mercedes-Benz that reshaped the brand's future, this is a comprehensive year-by-year chronicle of a unique automotive evolution.

The book covers:

The full story of AMG's independent era and its 1990s transition into official Mercedes-Benz partnership

All production AMG models from 1993 to 2024, presented in chronological chapters

Legendary engines, tuning techniques, and motorsport triumphs

Rare and obscure models alongside the most celebrated icons

Hundreds of colour images, advertisements, and catalogue shots (over 660 visuals)

With expert insights, rare images, and rich historical detail, this book is essential reading for Mercedes fans, collectors, and motoring enthusiasts alike.

Take a lap through the complete illustrated history of the powerful Mercedes-AMG, from the Red Pig racer to today’s 1063-plus horsepower Mercedes-AMG ONE.

For decades Mercedes-Benz was known primarily as a builder of luxury sedans, grand touring coupes, and handsome roadsters. But racers like its 1950s Silver Arrows and the stunning 300SL were reminders that performance lurked in its DNA, never far below the surface. Wanting to set that performance free, two former Mercedes-Benz engineers, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, teamed up in 1967 to focus on building M-B-based racing machines. Mercedes-AMG recounts the unlikely, amazing story of how they remade a stodgy Benz sedan into the all-conquering Red Pig racer and thus launched one of Germany’s greatest high-performance car companies: AMG. 

Considerable success in endurance and touring-class competition led AMG to a second business modifying production Mercedes-Benzes for enthusiast customers. By the 1980s, AMG was designing and building high-performance engine assemblies allowing them to modify M-B engines to previously unknown levels of performance. Thus were born legendary cars like the AMG Hammer. 

Mercedes was well aware of AMG’s success, and in 1990 a formal arrangement was made between the two companies leading to jointly developed performance cars sold and serviced through M-B dealerships. In 2005, M-B purchased AMG outright, leading to the creation of Mercedes-AMG, the high-performance arm of the company.  

Mercedes-AMG covers the full history of these German powerhouse cars, including:

• Early racing exploits in the 1960s
• The iconic Hammer and Black Series cars
• Today’s exclusive, high-performance Mercedes-AMG models ranging from the 420hp A45 hatchback to the 680hp C63 station wagon to the outrageous 1063hp Mercedes-AMG ONE
• Prototypes, racing, and special models 

This beautifully illustrated volume belongs on every Mercedes enthusiast’s shelf.

An appreciation of over half a century of incredible racing performances!

Mercedes and Benz Racing 1900-1955 is an appreciation of the incredible racing performances that occured between 1900 and 1955, when Daimler-Benz withdrew from Grand Prix and Sports car racing. This is a highly illustrated chronicle of the first 55 years of trials, tribulations, victories, setbacks, and the external influences that impacted on the Mercedes-Benz racing department.

This superb photo-rich volume sets out to show the first 55 years of trials and tribulations of Mercedes and Benz racing, extensively illustrated throughout with period images. Revealing the victories and setbacks, and the outside influences that impacted on the Mercedes-Benz racing department – the Rennabteilung – this is an appreciation of the racing performances, commencing with the prologue era, including the invention of the motor car for racing.