The Mercedes-Benz SL has always been the most special Mercedes-Benz of them all.
The roadster has always taken its cues from its racing heritage. An open top experience that was designed to thrill and exhilarate the senses. Whether it is a lonely West Texas highway or a luncheon date, an SL made the journey more spectacular.
When you open up an SL, you open up the world.
But, did you know that the first SL was the famous “gullwing” in 1954? The name SL stood for “Special Light” in English, which translates into a very special lightweight car for two people that was driven on the road and raced at the greatest courses the world over. The Roadster joined the Gullwing in 1955. While the Gullwing was indeed special, owners found the Roadster more enjoyable to drive.
The Gullwing went away in 1957, leaving the Roadster to carry on the legend of the SL.
That legend would be transformed into something uniquely special – the “Pagoda” generation. In 1963, Mercedes-Benz found that you can have both a hardtop and a roadster all in one car. The design of the “Pagoda” top was to accommodate taller people both behind the wheel and in the passenger seat.
That tradition continued into one of the iconic generations in SL history – the R107. It would be the car of movie stars and highly successful people. Even J.R. Ewing and his family drove a few on “Dallas.” The R107 had a timeless design that lasted well into the 1980s, which still looked relevant as time went by. It would also be the most popular SL ever made.
Then, the future called. The R129 became the SL of the 1990s. It continued to attract the most successful clientele in the Metroplex and beyond. It, too, was a timeless design that remains iconic today.
As time went by, the SL lineup grew again with AMG versions that added hand-crafted performance to this iconic model. It brought the enthusiasts back to the SL – ones looking for that extra rush of performance AMG is known for.
In the course of 66 years, the SL delighted Mercedes-Benz customers by being the ultimate expression of luxury and open-air driving. The 2020 SL has become the last in a line of the great automobiles. We will miss the thrill of an SL rolling down the freeway into the great Texas sunset.
Do not despair – Mercedes-Benz of Plano still has some of these great icons available for you to take home. Contact us and celebrate the great SL again!
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