Here’s a not-so-little secret: Mercedes-Benz’s long-serving and now former design boss Gorden Wagener has revealed a never-before-seen show car that reimagines one of the brand’s most outlandish racers. It’s the return of the ‘Red Pig’.
Obviously, it’s a render and unlikely to escape the digital realm, but it’s an interesting idea. Interesting because it softens up the original’s squared-off haunches, adds a bit of modern Merc glitter like starry headlights and a massive, chintzy grille, and slots in unconscionably massive wheels.
Wagener simply noted on his Instagram feed that this show car was “inspired by the Mercedes-AMG 300 SEL 6.3 ‘Rote Sau’ from 1971—another legendary design from the past into the future.” (Wagener stepped down as Mercedes-Benz’s design boss at the end of January 2026, for your information.)
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Of course, we all know it wasn’t a 6.3, because AMG founders Aufrecht and Melcher needed something meatier to countenance the 300 SEL’s bulk for its fun day out at Spa.
Where sensible racing teams were fielding sensible racing cars like Ford Capris and BMW E9s and Alfa Romeo GTAs, AMG rolled out Merc’s 300 SEL—the big fun bus that served as predecessor to today’s S-Class.
The 6.3-liter V8 was embiggened to 6.8 liters and out popped 428hp and 619Nm as a result, able to fire the big 1,635kg Benz from 0-100kph in 6.1sec. In 1971’s Spa 24 Hours—24 hours racing a Mercedes S-Class!—the Benz was one of the last cars standing at the finish, coming in a hot second, three laps down on the winning Capri.
Had it been more parsimonious with its fuel and tyres, who knows if it could have actually won. Think Merc should make this and have another crack at Spa?
More photos of the Mercedes-Benz ‘Red Pig’ concept render:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
