OMG, AMG, too, sort of jumped on the bandwagon with a similar racing-heritage-nostalgic concept as Ferrari´s Monza SP2, Aston Martin´s V12 Speed and McLaren´s Elva: No windscreen, an air deflection system that only half works, two scoops behind the seats and (except on the Elva) a spine running between both seats, only that on the AMG it arches up to serve as a HALO rollbar like on an F1 racer. Performance figures are very similar to the Aston Martin V12 Speedster, and not really that impressive in themselves and nowhere near an AMG One. So PureSpeed refers more to the purity of the windscreenless experience of speed rather than actual Vmax.

This first specimen of what is to become Mercedes´ highly collectible “Mythos” (myth) series is limited to 250 cars and only available in either silver, reminiscent of the 300 SLR driven to victory by Stirling Moss in the 1955 Mille Miglia, or with the Motorsport-Styling-Package to commemorate the centennial of Mercedes´victory at the Targa Florio in 1924, when they painted their #10 car red rather than the then customary German racing colour white to make Italian spectators believe it was one of their own countrymen and abstain from impeding its progress, as they rather unfairly used to do with all non-Italian participants back in the day. (In scale, CMC have made the historic race car, pictured here alongside the PureSpeed.)

In contrast to models of the Aston Martin V12 Speed and McLaren Elva, NZG have laudably made a fully opening diecast zinc alloy model available in both colour options; the silver version can be bought from the usual hobby retailers, this LeMans-red Motorsport-Styling-Package version here is limited to 2000 pieces and exclusively sold by Mercedes dealers, each at the same 180 Euros.

While the first edition of NZG´s AMG ONE was rather underwhelming, this here is a much better effort. The model is rather heavy due to its full metal floor plate that is quite detailed, but completely black. The rich LeMans-Red paint is smoothly applied and has fine metallic flakes transitioning gradually into equally finely flaked graphite-grey on the rear with AMG-bars-icons applied as a large decal, which becomes obvious through a small air-bubble on the gas flap. The front grille, proudly displaying the painted-on AMG script, is perforated, while the Mercedes star on the nose is not painted on as on the AMG ONE, but accurately replicated as an extra piece. The miniature AMG crest-logos on the scoops, albeit illegible, have not been forgotten either.

Carbon fibre imitation has become very convincing throughout, including in the fabulous wheels that sadly have no tire branding or valves, but excellent brakes visible through the spokes.

The interior is nicely detailed with sliding seats, photo-etched buckles on fabric seatbelts and detailed digital instruments, the analogue IWC clock on the centre dash and door panels with speakers and switches.

Lights are one of the model´s weaker points, with headlight projectors not being crystals but silver paint, painted-on eyebrow daytime-running-lights that will probably be drowned out completely on the silver model and don´t reach far enough down to conceal, but instead reveal the lens´s mounting clip. The tail lights only show the nicely structured details of their LED pattern in brighter light; the two reflectors in the bumper have visible mounting pins, and the brake light is merely painted on. The worst feature of the model, though, is the exhaust pipes, sadly lacking depth or complete perforation, making them look like some of Mercedes´ fake exhausts on the brand´s lesser cars, whereas this beast sports four real fanfares.

Where the model truly excels is all the hinge-work. As a sign of excellence, this goes almost unnoticed on the doors, but is so much more obvious on the trunk, integrating an unexpectedly movable rear spoiler and, of course, on the hood that accurately lifts and rises to be held open by struts.  The flat-engine syndrome is a modern plague, but the model makes every effort to imitate any depth the modern AMG engine has – and its colourlessness (as far as I can judge from pictures of the AMG SL´s engine shared by the PureSpeed).

So, is this scale model as collectible as the real car is meant to be? Well, I’m not sure if I really wanted the purist experience of speed in the real one, but certainly as something worth admiring in my display case alongside other cars I´ll perhaps never see, let alone drive in reality.