A Brief History of the R63
The Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG was built for just one model year (2007) with a total production of only 322 vehicles worldwide.
It was a 503-horsepower, 6.2L naturally aspirated V8 all-wheel-drive family hauler that could hit 60 mph in under 5 seconds. Part minivan, part supercar, it was hand-built in Alabama, and it remains one of the rarest AMGs ever produced. I bought mine about ten years ago in Mobile, Alabama, and have brought it back to better-than-showroom condition. Being the only one built in blue with tan leather interior, it's also a true "one-of-one".
A Collector’s Piece Worthy of a Unicorn
These coins were designed for the R63 AMG FB owners group — a small, passionate community of about 100 owners worldwide. Each coin is solid brass, plated in polished nickel with a fine sandblast matte finish, raised polished surfaces, and black hard enamel.
A coin was the perfect commemorative choice; substantial, timeless, and able to be both displayed, and handled and carried the right sense of heritage and precision, appropriate for the Mercedes-Benz brand itself.
The front features an illustration of the R63, drawn by hand from the photo of the vehicle in this post. Around the perimeter, the vehicle’s specs are within the *Mercedes-Benz* ring, framing the illustration. The laser-engraved serialization area was positioned and designed for visual balance and to mirror the “AMG” within the logo on the reverse, keeping the two sides architecturally related.
The reverse displays the AMG Affalterbach crest rendered in metal with raised and recessed areas to create visual contrast along with black enamel, rather than the multi-color version of the logo. We explored adding color at one stage, but the combination of polished and matte metal ultimately tied the front and back together more cohesively and elegantly.
Each coin is presented in a black velvet snap-shut Ambassador case. They’re extra thick (4mm) and slightly oversized at 2.25 inches — larger than the typical 1.5–2" size — giving them a proportional weight and presence. The edge treatment carries that same precision, just assertive enough to feel right for an AMG.
The group’s response was fantastic; this project quickly became a collector’s piece among R63 enthusiasts. A limited number were also incorporated into a framed AMG R63 poster designed for car shows, creating a 22"x28" creating a unified presentation piece.
Turning Heads Nearly 20 Years Later
To understand just how special the R63 really is, I recommend reading this great piece from Edmunds that captures its character perfectly. Writer Steven Ewing took a pristine example — owned by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center — for a drive from Monterey to Big Sur ahead of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.:
“You can drive through Monterey Car Week in a bright green Lamborghini Huracán and no one will bat an eye. But show up in Mercedes’ two-decade-old, cloudy-German-sky-silver, mega-homely minivan and suddenly, you're all the rage.”
He goes on to call the R63 “a small-batch minivan with one of the world's greatest V8 engines under its hood… we'll never see anything like it again.”
Closing Thoughts
Projects like this remind me why I love what I do. It’s about more than making a product — it’s about honoring the passion that drives people to care deeply about design, craftsmanship, and the machines they love.
📷 Photo: Poster layout designed for the R63.
🔗 Read the full Edmunds article
🔗 Learn more about our custom coins
