Gorden Wagener Reimagines Mercedes 300 SEL 6.8 AMG 'Red Pig'

Gorden Wagener may have left his official role at Mercedes, but he’s still playing with the ideas that shaped the brand.

In a recent post, he shared images of a concept that reimagines the 1971 Mercedes 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, better known as the “Red Pig.” If you know anything about AMG’s early days, you know that car wasn’t just another race entry. It was the moment everything changed.

This new design hasn’t been revealed at an auto show or teased with a dramatic countdown. It quietly appears in Wagener’s book Iconic Design, released in late 2025. He calls it an “unseen showcar" and leaves it there. No big explanation. Just images.

The concept keeps the long, formal proportions of the original sedan, but the surfaces are sharper and more sculpted. Up front, there’s a huge chrome grille that immediately dominates the nose, flanked by vertically stacked headlights. Additional LED rings sit low in the bumper, giving it a modern edge without completely losing the vintage feel.

From the side, the car looks sleek and planted. The greenhouse feels aerodynamic, almost concept-car smooth, but the racing cues are deliberate. There’s a splitter up front, a bold livery running down the body, and classic five-spoke wheels wrapped in AMG-branded tires. It doesn’t try to hide what it’s referencing.

At the rear, slim LED taillights stretch across the width of the car, mounted low for a wider stance. More illuminated rings sit within the diffuser. 

There are no engine specs because this concept was never intended for production. There are no performance claims and no discussion of building it. It exists purely as a design exercise, with a designer revisiting a defining moment without worrying about cost, regulations, or feasibility.

The original Red Pig, though, was very real. Based on the W109 luxury sedan, it was heavily modified for racing. Wider fenders, extra lights, lowered suspension and most importantly, a 6.8-liter V8 producing 428 horsepower. It weighed 1,635 kg, which made it heavy compared to its rivals. But at the 1971 24 Hours of Spa, it still won its class and finished second overall. That result gave AMG credibility almost overnight.

After its racing career, the car was reportedly scrapped following a stint as a test vehicle. In 2006, Mercedes recreated it using a 300 SEL 6.3 donor and original documentation to build a faithful replica.

Wagener’s modern vision reimagines the Red Pig through a bold lens, emphasizing raw energy, playful aggression, and a fearless presence that commands attention.