Vehicle Description
The rarest AMG model ever conceived and built, a completely
original SL 72. Over 525bhp! Two-owners from-new, 58K original
kilometers. One of just a handful built!
Background:
AMG first redesign of Mercedes Benz flagship 500SL came about in
1991 when AMG was still privately owned. By 1992, now owned by
Mercedes Benz, the open-top AMG variant was now being offered as
the SL60 AMG. These were the most numerous of the AMG models being
built and sold and they were available from 1993 to 1998. These all
used a 6.0-liter, 376 horsepower V8. Further tuning saw bhp rise to
405/410bhp using the same 6.0-liter V8 engine.
In 1995 AMG made available to a select few clients their most
powerful speciality vehicle ever produced. This was the legendary
SL 72 which was later given the designation SL 73.
There were two distinct versions of the SL 72 and later SL 73. The
original AMG SL 72 was available with a modified 7.3-liter V12
which was given the designation "M120.980.981 E72." This engine
produced 525 horsepower and an incredible 740NM torque! Using the
same basic engine but tuned slightly less, an "M120.982/983 E70"
version produced 496 horsepower and 720NM torque. Both engines used
titanium connecting rods but despite their exotic nature, these V12
monsters were utterly reliable and given the same warranty as a
regular production SL 600.
The SL72 designation was used initially when orders were first
received for modification to a standard SL600. At that time the
higher output engine could be ordered and fitted to three different
MB vehicles, the R129 Roadster or C140 or W140 sedans and coupes.
By the end of 1995, the SL 72 designation was dropped on the R129
platform and changed to SL 73. The body modifications were far more
subtle and gave little indication of what was under the skin. Just
35 SL 72 and 50 SL 73 models were completed for a total production
run of only 85 vehicles, 25 of which were purchased in a package
deal by the Sultan of Brunei.
From AMG's design department came the following press release:
"Mercedes-AMG presents the SL 73 AMG, undoubtedly the leader in the
small, exclusive segment of open super sports car. With a
performance output of 525bhp, the vehicle accelerated from 0 to 100
km/h in just 4.6 seconds with a top speed of more than 300kph.
Even today the AMG 7.3 liter V12 engine continues to impress: Its
V12 engine of 7,291 cubic centimeters is without equal. But despite
its emphasis on speed, the SL 73 AMG will stun the customer with
its litheness and - of course - its typical Mercedes-Benz style
sporting AMG styling at the front, sides and rear, plus the 18-inch
lightweight alloy AMG wheels.
Let it also be noted that to this very day, the SL was the only
vehicle among any competitors to be equipped with an automatically
extending roll bar that offered open-air driving with optimal
safety.
Enjoy our selection of SL 73 AMG bliss!"
Do to the incredible built cost of the SL 72/73, AMG offered a less
exotic and more affordable variant from 1998 to 2001. This was
given the designation SL 70. The SL 70 used a less exotic and
smaller 7.0-liter engine. These were still very impressive
machines, producing just shy of 500bhp from an engine with a
slightly smaller bore and stroke and standard steel-alloy
connecting rods rather than the titanium ones used in the SL 72 and
SL 73.
As a testament to just how incredible the engineering was behind
the SL 72/73s, when famed engineer Horacio Pagani was in search for
a power train for his new Pagani Zonda he made a licensing and
purchase agreement with AMG to acquire SL 72/73 V12 engines for use
in the Zonda.
WDB1290761F117824
This particular SL 72 was ordered and completed new on March 10th,
1995, it is a relatively early build example and one of the very
few to receive the SL 72 rather than the later SL 73 badging and
identification. AMGs records are somewhat conflicting as they site
a production of 25 SL-72 models in early press releases but most
experts believe a total of 35 were competed with 25 being bought by
the Sultan of Brunei. All of the SL 72s are identify as 1995 models
but several are believed to have been built as well in 1996 when
production was halted. Besides the rear badging of the SL 72, the
later SL 73 models built from 1999 to 2001 carry far more tame body
modifications.
This SL 72 was completed with a standard white exterior and full
AMG body conversion as well as interior treatment, engine,
suspension, gearbox, special alloy-wheels and rear limited slip
differential. A copy of the original German registration documents
remain with the vehicle and they note that the car was certified
completed with the M120 7.2-liter (7,291cc) 525bhp V12 engine. This
vehicle was ready for retail delivery on July 24th, 1995 and issued
temporary certification which expired upon export to Japan where it
was sold new on August 7th, 1995. This AMG was initially registered
to a private museum collection on August 8th, 1995 on Japanese
plates "34 7935." The original Japanese department of motor vehicle
records confirm ownership and registration thereafter in 1999,
2001, 2002, 2003 and 2015 when the registration was changed to
Japanese plates "399 5295." The Japanese records further confirm
mileage statements showing that in 2004, this AMG had covered
31,500 kilometers and in 2006 when it was sold to the second owner,
the mileage was now recorded at 49,000 kilometers. Earlier this
year our company purchased this AMG with total mileage now recorded
at 58,544 kilometers.
This AMG SL 72 is one of just 35 examples completed and one of only
10 sold privately in 1995. this is a completely rust and accident
free example with just two owners from new and known history going
back to the original ordering details. All services are completely
current and up to date and this vehicle is fully legal for
road-registration and use in the States and of course any European
nation.
Please email or call me for additional assistance in arranging for
inspections, test drives and of course with the potential purchase
of this vehicle.
