The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a roadster manufactured by Mercedes since 1954. The designation SL derives from the German Sport Leicht, or Sport Light — and was first applied to the 300SL 'Gullwing' named also after its "gullwing" or upward-opening doors.

The term SL-Class refers to the marketing variations of the vehicle, including the numerous engine configurations spanning five design generations.

The 300SL roadster succeeded the Gullwing in 1957. The 4-cylinder 190SL was more widely produced with 25,881 units, starting in 1955. Cars of the open SL-Class were available as a coupe with a removable hardtop or as a roadster with convertible soft top or with both tops. Production for the 190SL and 300SL ended in 1963.

The extremely rare SL73 AMG was sold through AMG in 1995, and at 525 bhp it offered the most powerful V12 engine ever put into an SL up to that time. After a brief gap, the SL73 was offered again from 1998 to 2001, although the engine was slightly updated to be more reliable. The same 7.3 L V12 was later used by Pagani in the Zonda. A total of 85 SL73 AMG roadsters were built. The SL73 was briefly reintroduced in September 1999 following the SL's end of life facelift and a limited number were produced up until December 2001. The facelifted SL73 is the car that appears in the picture (left).

The SL60 AMG was also extremely rare. Sold through MB from 1996 to 1998, it used a 6.0 litre V8 engine producing between 381 bhp and 384 bhp. AMG claimed a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) speed of 5.8 seconds. Its top speed was limited to 155 mph (249 km/h), but with the limiter removed, it was capable of approximately 185 mph (298 km/h). AMG later unofficially admitted that 0-60 mph was closer to 5.0 seconds and the engine produced between 405-410 bhp.

The SL55 AMG was sold through AMG in the R129 bodystyle from 1998 to 2001 in limited quantity. It was the predecessor of the production R230 SL55 AMG sold today.

Only about 300 cars in the SL-class were customized by AMG prior to 2003.

View also:
Mercedes-Benz E-Class - Mercedes-Benz F1 - Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class - Mercedes-Benz SLR Class - Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class - Mercedes-Benz S-Class - Mercedes-Benz Fascination - Mercedes-Benz GL-Class - Mercedes-Benz Classic - Mercedes-Benz G-Class - Mercedes-Benz A-Class - Mercedes-Benz B-Class - Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Mercedes-Benz CL-Class - Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class - Mercedes-Benz F600 - Mercedes-Benz F700 - Mercedes-Benz M-Class - Mercedes-Benz Mojave Runner - Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive - Mercedes-Benz R-Class - Mercedes-Benz Recy - Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow - Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

Check out the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class wallpapers and Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Pictures (pics) collection below: