Friday 29th July 2011

Pic Of The Week: Merc 'Red Pig' Back At Spa

Porcine love in Belgium as SLS honours its 24-hour predecessor

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The term Red Pig might sound like a politically incorrect insult of some sort, an entrant into an Alabama agricultural fair, or possibly some sort of barbecue confection. It does, of course, refer to the legendary SEL 6.8 AMG racer that finished second in the Spa 24 hours back in 1971.

And to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that fine showing, an SLS AMG GT3 driven by (among others) Kenneth Heyer - son of Hans Heyer, one of two pilots of the 1971 car - is entering the race with the same livery as the legendary Red Pig.

Sadly, the original Red Pig has been lost to history after a spell testing aircraft tyres (no, really), so the car that isn't an SLS that you see in today's POTW (or POTWs, plural - we couldn't pick just one) is a replica built in 2006. Still, it's nice to see father and son (and father and son) together again.

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We wish Herr Heyer junior and all the team at Black Falcon racing (who are running the car) the very best of luck this Saturday and Sunday.

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[whythem]

Why was the car called the Red Pig? It's obviously red, but why Pig?

[1000TCR]

There's nothing worse than two colours that are almost the same... especially if it's red.

[pSyCoSiS]

That 6.8 SEL is simply stunning.

Good luck to the chaps.

[steve_n]

whythem said:

Why was the car called the Red Pig? It's obviously red, but why Pig?

Handles like a ...

[Gatsods]

What I wouldn't give to have these in the garage....

[B10]

Bet the old car is much more relaible than the new racer.

[pSyCoSiS]

steve_n said:

Handles like a ...

It was due to it's appetite for fuel (and tyres) !

[Suomi]

No. Five Waxenberger's "red pig" was made, three racer's and two test car's. Only original racecar, Waxenberger work build, 1969, show in Vehoniemi Car Museum Finland.


Keimola_Finland_1970



More info http://personal.inet.fi/urheilu/keimola/amcar.htm

Vintage info http://www.m-100.cc/6point3/magazines/roadtest_jan...

Edited by Suomi on Saturday 21st January 22:08

[Dave Hedgehog]

i really dont like most modern cars in red, dont know why?

[bicycleshorts]

Was in Paris last week, both of these cars were in the Mercedes shop/showroom on Champs-Elysées. Worth checking out, the rear camber on the SEL is mental.