The Mercedes-Benz SL started as a race car in 1952 and reached showrooms two years later. Since then, the name has passed through eight distinct chassis series, from the Gullwing 300 SL to today’s Mercedes-AMG SL.

One note on the count. Mercedes and many references call the current car the seventh generation, because they group the 190 SL with the 300 SL. Instead, here the 190 SL gets its own entry, since it had its own chassis code and engine, and that makes eight.

1. 1954–1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198)

At first, the SL was a racing program. Mercedes-AMG says the 300 SL raced in 1952 and went into production two years later, built around Rudolf Uhlenhaut’s tubular frame. The production car made its debut at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954.

Mercedes-Benz built only 1,400 Gullwing coupes, according to its 70-years-of-SL history. A roadster then followed in 1957. Motor1 reports that 1,858 roadsters were built through 1963. Hagerty credits the 3.0-liter six’s Bosch mechanical direct injection with 212 horsepower.

2. 1955–1963 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (W121)

The 190 SL shared the 1954 New York show stand with the 300 SL. However, it was a different kind of car. According to eMercedesBenz, Mercedes conceived it as an elegant touring two-seater, not a pure sports car. Its body followed the Gullwing’s lines, but it had a soft top.

Under the hood, power came from a new 1.9-liter four-cylinder rated at 77 kW, about 105 horsepower. In all, Mercedes built 25,881 before the last one left the line in 1963. That separate chassis is why this list counts it alone, while Top Gear’s generation guide groups it with the 300 SL.

3. 1963–1971 Mercedes-Benz SL (W113 “Pagoda”)

In 1963, the 230 SL replaced both the 300 SL Roadster and the 190 SL, according to the Mercedes history. Hagerty says it was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. Mercedes-AMG adds that it was the first sports car with protective bodywork and a larger crumple zone. In fact, the same source admits it was slower than the car it replaced.

Later, the engines grew. According to Hagerty’s SL guide, the 2.3-liter six made 148 horsepower, and the final 2.8-liter made 168. Hagerty counts 19,831 230 SLs and 48,912 W113s in total.

4. 1971–1989 Mercedes-Benz SL (R107)

The R107 brought the V8. According to Mercedes-AMG’s SL history, it was the first SL with an eight-cylinder engine, starting at 3.5 liters. The company says it sold about 250,000 of them.

In fact, no other SL stayed in production as long. The Mercedes history calls its 18-year run a record. Americans also bought plenty: Hagerty says over 200,000 R107s were sold in the USA. Later, Hagerty notes, the 560 SL used a 5.5-liter V8 rated at 227 horsepower.

5. 1989–2001 Mercedes-Benz SL (R129)

Bruno Sacco’s R129 arrived in 1989. Then came twelve cylinders. Mercedes-AMG says the SL 600 made 394 horsepower. By 1999, the SL 73 AMG used a 7.3-liter V12 with 525 horsepower.

Collector prices for the V12 car are on record, too. For example, Hagerty values a 1993 600 SL in #1 concours condition at $56,500. Hagerty also says the R230 replaced it in 2001.

6. 2001–2011 Mercedes-Benz SL (R230)

The R230 swapped the soft top for a folding hardtop, according to Mercedes-AMG. Hagerty lists engines from a 242-horsepower V6 to a 302-horsepower V8 and a twin-turbo V12. From 2008, Mercedes-AMG says, it used “63” for the AMG V8 and “65” for the V12.

AMG power was common in this car. The Mercedes history says almost a third of all R230s had AMG engines. At the top sat the SL 65 AMG Black Series, rated at 493 kW, or 670 horsepower.

7. Mercedes-Benz SL (R231), from 2012

Mercedes unveiled the R231 in January 2012 to mark the SL’s 60th birthday, according to its history. Hagerty dates the launch to 2011. Either way, the car kept the folding hardtop, Mercedes-AMG notes.

Meanwhile, the range ran wide. Hagerty lists a 3.5-liter V6 and a 3.0-liter turbo six with 328 horsepower. At the top, the SL 65 AMG used a 6.0-liter V12 with 621 horsepower.

8. Mercedes-AMG SL (R232), unveiled 2021

The current SL is the first one developed entirely by Mercedes-AMG, according to Mercedes-AMG. The company unveiled it in 2021. Hagerty notes that it returned to a fabric roof and added 2+2 seating, with turbo six and turbo V8 power.

Under the skin, it is also a stiffer car. Mercedes-AMG says the body is 18 percent more resistant to twisting than before. At the same time, the body shell weighs only about 270 kilograms, the company says.

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This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.