The recent passing of Mercedes-Benz legend Erich Waxenberger, age 86, has the company looking back at the engineer's most stirring contributions. The Bavarian-born Waxenberger was famously responsible for the 1968 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3, which was labeled by the press as the "greatest sedan in the world."

He came up with the innovative new model when, tired of the German automotive press considering the Mercedes-Benz lineup as boring, he tinkered with a 230 SL and merged it with the then-famous 6.3-liter M100 V8 engine originally commissioned for the luxurious 600 limousines. The result was a vehicle that—after a few more alterations—won the heart of the Mercedes-Benz CEO at the time, Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Two years later, the 300 SEL 6.3 was officially released at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show. 

Doors kept opening for Waxenberger from that point on. He created a motorsports variant of the 300 SEL 6.3, affectionately called the "Red Pig." This vehicle shocked audiences with its size and surprising precision on the race track. The engineer also led the great rally successes of the C107 AMG® sports coupes, particularly in the 1978 South American Rally, and was known to push boundaries (and prototype testers) to the limits. 

With such a long and detailed career, Waxerberger created a legacy that will last for many years to come. His achievements and accomplishments have truly shaped Mercedes-Benz into the luxury automaker that it is today.       

Image Credit: Daimler Global Media Site