Mercedes-AMG reveals '45th anniversary' SLS GT3 racer

Mercedes and AMG have chalked up 45 years of partnership by turning out a limited-edition version of the SLS GT3 racer.

Just five examples will be offered for sale, priced in Germany at 446,250 Euros ($558,568 in our money) – a premium of roughly $12K over the standard SLS AMG GT3.

According to the company’s blurb, the SLS racer is “aimed at car collectors with a particular penchant for motor racing”.

The AMG Customer Sports Programme has yielded solid results thus far, with 32 victories in the 2012 season, along with three driver and team titles in the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT Masters and the FIA GT1 World Championship.

The “45th Anniversary” SLS GT3 customer car will be hand-built at AMG’s Affalterbach factory, with multiple DTM champ and AMG brand ambassador Bernd Schneider playing a role in the assembly process and installing the 6.2-litre V8 in the car with the help of an AMG engine fitter.

Befitting its low-volume status, the bespoke racer is distinguished by ‘designo magno graphite’ matte paint finish, a hue that’s only thus far appeared on the SL 65AMG “45th Anniversary” that was unveiled at this year’s New York motor show to mark the 45th birthday of Mercedes-AMG.

The AMG light-alloy wheels in ‘designo magno’ graphite complement the body’s matte paintwork, and also unique to the car is the “45 Years of Driving Performance” logo framed in silver on the GT3’s gullwing doors.

The doors, along with the bonnet, guards, bootlid, rear wings, front and rear apron, front splitter and rear diffuser are fabricated from CFRP (carbon-fibre reinforced plastic) to minimise weight.

The interior of the SLS AMG GT3 45th Anniversary features a steel rollcage that’s finished in matching matte designo magno graphite paint, while the dashboard and centre console also sport a matte carbon-fibre finish.

The low-volume racer’s identity is rammed home by a “1 of 5” logo on the seats and the centre console, and the car’s status is further spelt out on its AMG indoor car cover with a “45 Years of Driving Performance” logo.

Meanwhile, the engine is emblazoned with a badge bearing the signatures of Bernd Schneider and the responsible engine fitter, and buyers of the car receive a vehicle certificate signed by Schneider.

Five-time DTM champion Schneider is said to have carried out the majority of test drives for the racing version of the gullwing model, and he also participates in selected races as part of the AMG driver support set-up.

Handover of the SLS AMG GT3 45th Anniversary takes place directly at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, where customers are given an in-depth introduction to operation of the vehicle, provided personally by Schneider.

On request, SLS AMG GT3 45th Anniversary customers can also opt for a race track coaching session as part of the vehicle initiation program.

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