70 years of sport, luxury and lifestyle: the Mercedes-Benz SL!

The two letters SL are the world-famous identifier and the distinction of a unique Mercedes-Benz sports car tradition: For 70 years, the abbreviation has stood for "Super-Light" and thus for sporty driving - from the 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) from 1952 to the latest SL of the 232 series from the sports car and performance brand Mercedes-AMG. The forefather W 194 was reserved for motorsport, but in doing so it conveyed an important brand value of Mercedes-Benz: As the oldest luxury car manufacturer in the world, the brand has been involved in motorsport in many eras - and has been extremely successful in doing so. Starting with the 300 SL Coupé (W 198) production sports car, sportiness, luxury and lifestyle are the attributes of every SL.

Mercedes-Benz SL

All generations of this illustrious line of ancestors write their own chapters in the uninterrupted success story. The Mercedes-Benz Museum tells this unique history with the special exhibition “Fascination SL – a dream car for 70 years”: www.mercedes-benz.com/sl-special-exhibition. The exhibition can be seen in collection room 9 until October 2022, 5 and includes ten SL sports cars from seven decades, from the oldest surviving 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) to the new Mercedes-AMG SL of the 232 series.

Sportiness in the genes

On March 12, 1952, Mercedes-Benz presented the 300 SL (W 194), a pure motorsport vehicle. With him, the brand wins four out of five races in the season: the sports car races in Bern (triple victory) and on the Nürburgring (quadruple victory), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (double victory) and the III. Carrera Panamericana in Mexico (one-two). At the Mille Miglia, which was the first race at the time, it was places two and four. The W 1953/194 racing prototype was created for the 11 season. Because of the preparations for entry into Formula 1, it was no longer used, but it was an important technological step on the way to racing cars (W 196 R) and racing sports cars (W 196 S) in 1954 and 1955.

Calls for a production version of the successful racing car quickly became louder. Mercedes-Benz reacted and as early as 1954 presented the 300 SL Coupé (W 198) production sports car, the legendary "Gullwing". Only 1.400 of the coveted sports car with the characteristic doors hinged on the roof because of the tubular space frame were built. Today, the vehicles reach prices well above one million euros. At the same time as the "Gullwing", the brand presented the Mercedes-Benz 1954 SL in 190, designed as an elegant, open-top sports car. In addition to the 300 SL super sports car, the roadster, which also looks very sporty on the outside, is a vehicle with comprehensive comfort, even for long journeys at high cruising speeds.

In 1957, the 300 SL Roadster (W 198) followed the "Gullwing" coupé. Like its predecessor, this vehicle was also created on the initiative of US importer Maximilian E. Hoffman. Technically, the roadster largely corresponds to the coupé. By modifying the side parts of the tubular space frame, however, the entry height can now be reduced to such an extent that normal, front-hinged doors can be used. In 1963 the 230 SL (W 113) replaced both the 300 SL Roadster and the 190 SL. It impresses with its sportiness, comfort and safety and has been a pioneer in the SL tradition ever since. The inwardly curved shape of the optional hardtop with high windows and the roof supported by narrow pillars is reminiscent of Asian temples. This earned the W 113 the nickname "Pagoda".

The SL of the R 107 series premiered in the spring of 1971. For the first time in the history of the Mercedes-Benz SL, eight-cylinder engines were at work in the 350 SL and 450 SL. The 1974 SL with a six-cylinder engine followed in 280, meaning there were three engines in the range for the first time. The series exudes elegance and solidity. The crash behavior of the open two-seater is far ahead of its time. The R 107 is built for 18 years – a record.

Seven decades of SL – an equally comprehensive history of technology

At the 1989 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz then presented the next generation, the SL of the R 129 series. The automatic roll bar, which pops out in just 0,3 seconds even when the hardtop is closed, is characteristic of the industry. The brand hits the mark with the vehicle: The production capacity is soon fully utilised. In some cases, customers accept delivery periods of several years. The twelve-cylinder top models 600 SL/SL 600 (290 kW/394 hp) and SL 73 AMG with 7,3 liter V12 engine and 386 kW (525 hp) are legendary.

In 2001, the next SL generation with the internal abbreviation R 230 premiered. Its most striking innovation is the steel vario-roof: for the first time in the history of the Mercedes-Benz SL, it allows for an open vehicle and a coupé in one. The design of the R 230 series combines tradition and future with striking details. The AMG share is growing significantly in this SL generation: almost a third of all R 230 have AMG engines. The SL 65 AMG Black Series marks the top with 493 kW (670 hp). In January 2012, to mark the 60th anniversary of the SL, the R 231 series was presented at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. One focus of the new design is on reducing the weight of the sports car through numerous measures. Available on request: MAGIC SKY CONTROL, the glass roof with adjustable tint and transparency.

The new Mercedes-AMG SL (R 232) is the latest update of an icon. The sports car and performance brand will present it in 2021. With a classic soft top and sporty character, it fits seamlessly into the brilliant history. At the same time, as a 2+2 seater, the luxurious roadster is particularly suitable for everyday use and, for the first time, puts its performance on the road with all-wheel drive. The extensive technological equipment includes highlights such as the AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with active roll stabilization, rear-axle steering, the optionally available AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system or the standard DIGITAL LIGHT with projection function. As a consistent performance luxury model, Mercedes-AMG developed the SL completely independently in Affalterbach. The market launch will be preceded by two models with AMG V8 biturbo engines.

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70 years of sport, luxury and lifestyle: the Mercedes-Benz SL!
Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz

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