Mercedes-AMG®: A Heritage of Performance

Mercedes-AMG® vehicles are at the very forefront of performance innovation and capability — and they always have been. Mercedes-Benz models have dominated racetracks worldwide since the beginning of the automotive industry, and adding AMG® made their portfolio and capabilities that much more formidable. Learn about the heritage of Mercedes-AMG® and Mercedes-Benz performance; take your first drive in a performance-ready model at Keyes European.

In the Beginning

Mercedes-Benz was first established in 1926, after decades of innovation and building by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler, and Wilhelm Maybach. By that point, the founding companies already had racing experience and victories under their belts, but the Mercedes-Benz company, as we know it today, began Grand Prix racing not long after its establishment, in the 1920s and 1930s. By the 1950s, they returned to the modern Formula 1 tracks featuring drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio and Sterling Moss. They withdrew from factory-sponsored racing after the Le Mans disaster of 1955.

In the 1960s, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher broke off from the no-longer-racing Daimler Benz family, where they worked in Development. Instead, they focused on building impressive performance engines, officially founding Aufrecht, Melcher, and Großaspach (AMG®) as an independent tuning house in 1967. They hit the racetrack in 1971 at the 24 Hours of Spa, winning the class championship and second overall place.

Up to Today

Mercedes-AMG® and Mercedes-Benz have continued to innovate and collaborate since those early days. In the 1980s, Daimler-Benz and AMG® became official motorsports partners, winning significant victories over decades of work. Today, over 50 performance vehicles bear the Mercedes-AMG® distinction, and they maintain a level of excellence in Formula 1 and beyond.

Test Drive Performance Vehicles in Van Nuys, CA

Whether you want to test the limit down at the track or simply love the sound of a powerful engine under the hood, you’ll find the perfect vehicle at Keyes European. We’re proud to share cars with a long history of motorsports excellence, including Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG® models. Schedule the first drive at our dealership.