The lineage of the Mercedes-Benz SL class extends all the way back to the 300SL race car of 1952 and the road-going "Gullwing Coupe" sports car that followed in 1955. At times, for marketing purposes, SL models were lumped in with the S-Class, while in other years, the SL was a range of one. Today, it's the four-model sports car class of Mercedes-Benz, a class that includes some of
...The lineage of the Mercedes-Benz SL class extends all the way back to the 300SL race car of 1952 and the road-going "Gullwing Coupe" sports car that followed in 1955. At times, for marketing purposes, SL models were lumped in with the S-Class, while in other years, the SL was a range of one. Today, it's the four-model sports car class of Mercedes-Benz, a class that includes some of the world's most desirable automobiles.
The Gullwing's production run was short lived, and a 300SL roadster replaced it in 1957. The 190SL, a smaller, less expensive, much less powerful sports car, was added to the range in the mid-1950s. It was intended mainly for the U.S. market and was built on a shortened sedan platform. Long after the 190SL went out of production, it found favor with collectors as other early SL Mercedes cars accelerated in value to a point where they were beyond the reach of most enthusiasts.
In 1963, the all-new 230SL and its 2.3-liter six-cylinder replaced the 300 and 190. In later years, the new roadster's powerplants grew in displacement, and the model designation was changed accordingly to 250SL and 280SL. Cars equipped with the optional hardtop came to be known as "Pagoda Cars," because the hardtop roof looked like--you guessed it--a pagoda.
The third generation of SL sports cars led a long and healthy life. Introduced to America in 1972 as a 350SL, it was powered by a 4.5-liter V-8. A 350SLC coupe was its stablemate. In 1983 M-B rethought the name and rechristened the U.S. version of its sports cars with the names 450SL and 450 SLC. The 3.8-liter aluminum-engine 380 models followed and, finally, a 5.6-liter 560SL closed out the near 18-year reign of this series.
In 1990, the U.S. finally received a new SL. Introduced to Europe a year earlier, it was a much sleeker and more modern design than its predecessor. Fitted with gee-whiz features like a roll bar that popped up in accidents, the car was heavy--but a 322-horsepower V-8 hustled it along in good style. The 389-horsepower V-12 that premiered under the SL hood in 1992 made it quicker still. In 1994, the SL models were renamed with the new letter-first designations, so the 600SL, for example, became the SL600.
Today's SL Class came along in 2003, and it was immediately hailed as the best-handling SL of all time, probably because it was and is. With advanced adaptive suspension and a rock-solid platform, the car is masterful on the road. It doesn't suffer for power either, with the least potent engine delivering 382 horsepower, and the most potent--the SL65 AMG powerplant--pouring out a massive 604 horsepower.
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