MERCEDES.

The history of the Mercedes SL: from the "Gullwing" to the latest icon signed by Mercedes-AMG.

At Padua, Mercedes-Benz Italia, together with the Mercedes-Benz Register Italy, celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Mercedes SL. On March 12, 1952, on the A81 motorway, near Stuttgart, the 300 SL was presented for the first time, a model destined for success in competitions that, starting from 1954, was transformed into a production super sports car.

The goal of this model was, in fact, to expand the potential of the brand, reaping successes in the Motorsport. A series of victories on circuits around the world helped to strengthen this strategy, paving the way for the 300 SL (W198), the production sports version, which, due to its unusual doors, was nicknamed the "Gullwing." In 1999, a jury of specialized journalists elected it the "Sports Car of the Century."

In the Mercedes exhibition area, it will be possible to admire some of the milestones that trace the history of the SL. From the 1954 "Gullwing" 300 SL, to the 1967 250 SL (W113): the legendary "Pagoda," which was a protagonist on the international jet-set scene between 1963 and 1971. A fascinating timeline which starts with the timeless 1986 500 SL (R107), the longest-running generation of the SL family, produced for 18 years, from 1971-1989. An exciting journey

into the Mercedes heritage, which enters the future with the new Mercedes-AMG SL: the latest generation of this timeless icon that returns to its roots with the classic fabric hood and its trademark sporty character