A New Icon Among the Classics: The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 Reaches Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla., March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The auto industry's official start to the classic car event season, the 17th annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance March 9-11, 2012, is a car enthusiast's utopia and for many of the 15,000 plus attendees headed to the North Florida event, a special history lesson on Mercedes-Benz SL Roadsters.

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A very special star rose in Stuttgart, Germany through motor sports racing in 1952 -- the 300SL competition W194 series.  The "SL" stood for "Super-Light" and with its successes in international competitions became the initial spark for the start of two fascinating production sports cars – the 300SL "Gullwing" Coupe and the 300SL Roadster, which laid the foundation for six decades of legendary SL Roadster tradition.

The final fairway of the Ritz Carlton golf course at Amelia Island provides the canvas for many of the featured cars participating in the Concours.  That canvas includes the 1952 Mercedes-Benz W194-series 300SL, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race the same year.  It will sit alongside the 2013 SL550 to contrast and compare the past six decades of the SL.  To hit home the SL "Super Light" namesake, a special spectator display is featuring the chassis and drivetrain of early production 1954 300SL Coupe to showcase the elegant, lightweight engineering design that put the SL at the forefront while establishing a legacy that continues today.  In fact, the new 2013 SL evokes the SL from 60 years ago with a new aluminum bodyshell that weighs around 242 pounds less than it would using the steel technology of its predecessor.  The result is perceptible and measurable as less weight improves performance and efficiency.

Historical SL Timeline:
In 1952 the DNA of the SL Roadster was formed in the W194 race car and storied legacy was underway:

• 1954:  the W198-series 300SL "Gullwing" Coupe, the production version of the legendary W194 race car and the world's first car with fuel injection.
• 1957:  the W198-series 300SL Roadster, the convertible sports car brethren of 300 SL "Gullwing" Coupe.
• 1963:  the W113-series 230SL arrived on the scene. It was dubbed the "Pagoda" because of the characteristic shape of its hardtop roof.
• 1971:  the R107-series SL that achieved the highest production volume of all SL series to date with a long production life of 18 years.
• 1989:  the R129-series SL featuring numerous passive and active safety innovations that carried the SL-Class into the new millennium.
• 2001:  the R230-series SL – the first SL roadster with a electro-hydraulic, steel folding convertible top.
• 2012:  the R231-series SL – the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class makes its Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance debut. Scheduled to be available at Mercedes-Benz dealers in May 2012.

"The SL classic car collector market continues to grow and we've seen the value of vehicles rise over time," said Michael Kunz, manager of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine California.  "These cars were always at the cutting-edge of design and represent a moment in history. It's not surprising that people want to own one and we have a great sense of pride in keeping them running and true to their originality."

Among the historic Mercedes-Benz SL vehicles, several of the most innovative vehicles from Mercedes-Benz are making an appearance during the Concours weekend including the exclusive SLS AMG Roadster supercar and the C63 AMG Black Series.  Mercedes-Benz AMG is offering consumer test drives with the 2012 SLK55 AMG and C63 AMG vehicles on Saturday. Mercedes-Benz is also hosting the concours' gala dinner with this year's honoree -- legendary driver Vic Elford.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.  MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.  

MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart in the US.  More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA