The new Mercedes-AMG S63 4Matic Cabriolet “Edition 130” will be limited to 130 examples worldwide. This is quite a change of pace for a firm that sold close to 2 billion cars in 2014 and by all indications, when the final numbers are in, will have raced past that count in 2015. The new limited edition was unveiled at the North American International Autoshow (aka the Detroit Motor Show) and is meant to celebrate the history and heritage of the company, as well as its reputation for making superlative cars. That said, strap yourself in and get ready for a bit of a history lesson.

In 1885 Karl Benz developed the first vehicle – a three-wheeler – powered by his internal combustion engine and a year later Gottlieb Daimler independently debuted his own gas engine four-wheel car. And although both innovators initially set out with their own businesses to sell automobiles to the public, by 1926 those businesses had joined forces to become Daimler-Benz, Mercedes-Benz’s parent.

“The first automobiles from Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler were open vehicles. Mercedes-AMG honors this achievement of the founding fathers with this highly exclusive cabriolet, and demonstrates the developments the automobile has undergone in the last 130 years, developments which would have been inconceivable at that time,” said Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

To ensure the car stands out from all other S-Class cabriolets, it will feature a special high-gloss silver paint finish chosen to pay homage to the firm’s racing heritage. The fabric folding roof will also be finished in red, an option unavailable on any other production Mercedes drop top.

The seats are finished in Bengal red and black Nappa Leather and exclusive carbon fiber and piano black veneers adorn the console and door panels. An engraved steering wheel bezel and a prominently placed plaque on the center console indicate that the car is both a special edition and record which number in the 130-model run it represents.

And that’s just the start. Aware that truly limited edition cars very quickly become collectible, each example will come with its own tailor-made embroidered car cover, and every example will be handed over personally to its owner along with a Welcome package, which will include a special key for the vehicle and an aluminum box in which to keep it safe.

But with a 5.5-liter bi-turbo V8 under its hood, an output of 577bhp to all four wheels and a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds, it will be a true shame if these cars are put into storage rather than being used for their intended purpose – a celebration of the automobile.