The first cooperation between Mercedes and AMG

[2phast]

I have always supported that the first cooperation between Mercedes and AMG being the 1992 190E 3.2l and the 1992 300E 3.4l cars. Mercedes has always claimed that the first cooperation between AMG/Mercedes was the 1994 C36. With no clear reasoning as to why

This is a document that Jay Manek received from AMG when inquiring about his 300TE 3.4l wagon (for sale BTW) which specifically states the first cooperation project with Mercedes was in 1991 with the 3.4l cars, the 300E 3.4l, 300TE 3.4l and 300CE 3.4l

 

[Efraim]

What about the "Rote Sau" on 1971? Wasn't that co-operation between the companies?

 

[gerryvz]

What about the Rote Sau on 1971? Wasnt that co-operation between the companies?

Yes, but with an important caveat.

Mercedes-Benz (specifically Erich Waxenberger, chief of the MB Experimental Department at that time), did provide Aufrecht and Melcher with a few M100 6.3-liter engines on an "under the table" basis to support the development of the 6.8-liter version of the engine as used in the Rote Sau for Spa and other races at the end of the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s. This support from Waxenberger was not sanctioned by MB, and perhaps even they never knew about it until much later.

Erich Waxenberger told me about this personally when I stayed with him in 2002 at his winter home in Switzerland. I will never forget the look on his face when I did a Google search of his name and all of the information available even then. He'd never seen that before.

The supplying of these engines to AMG was instrumental to them getting started in racing. It was primarily done by Waxenberger because MB was not officially supporting any type of racing at that time, stemming from a board decision made in the wake of the racing disaster they had in the 1950s. By supplying these engines and other assistance "under the table," Waxenberger was living a little vicariously through Aufrecht and Melcher. He even was an actual driver (using an alias) of the Rote Sau for a couple of races.

So @2phast's statement and document really pertains to "official" and company-sanctioned support and co-operation between the companies. Anything prior to that would have been done on an individual and/or ad-hoc basis.

Waxenberger was also known for "unofficially" providing MB support in the form of parts and assemblies to assist other non-MB racing efforts, using MB vehicles, such as with the rallying efforts in the 1970s with the C107 models, and so forth. Obviously later on, MB decided to begin factory support again for racing efforts, to an increasing degree.

 

[WDB748372]

Some interesting documents and AMG timeline attached to the live 3.4TE auction.
As noted in the documents attached, add the 500 SL 6.0 to the list/group of vehicles initially offered by MB AMG.