by "Porsche was my first word" (porschewasmyfirstword)
Published 08/11/2017 at 14:39
by "Porsche was my first word" (porschewasmyfirstword)
Published 08/11/2017 at 14:39
No Tags
STARS: 6
There is a 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL72 AMG on sale. What makes this car so special? Pagani was so impressed by the engine, he chose it for his Zonda.
Also, only 35 were ever produced, of which the Sultan of Brunei added 25 to his collection. So only 10 hit the market. This one is now for sale.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
From the seller’s page:
“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.”
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
08/11/2017 at 14:54, STARS: 1
Why would you want 25 of the same car?
"syaieya" (syaieya)
08/11/2017 at 15:15, STARS: 0
Their photo gallery makes me think no one was allowed to sit inside the car or at least someone lost the keys for half an hour while the guy with the camera had to wait outside.
Also, whats up with the lack of the Bose sound system? Someone penny pinching on something like this?
"Porsche was my first word" (porschewasmyfirstword)
08/11/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 2
Why would you want 25 of the same car?
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
The only thing I can think of
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Or, in this case, 25.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
08/11/2017 at 15:21, STARS: 2
Why would you want 25 shares of the same stock?
"fintail" (fintail)
08/11/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 0
No price = zu teuer
"Jagvar" (Jagvar)
08/11/2017 at 16:29, STARS: 4
The sad thing is that the Sultan never drove — or even maintained — most of the cars that he bought. The majority were delivered and immediately left to waste away under the desert sun, forgotten the moment they arrived. I really think the guy just kept ordering cars because he was bored.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
08/11/2017 at 16:56, STARS: 0
“...immediately left to waste away under the desert sun in a warehouse...”
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
08/11/2017 at 17:17, STARS: 2
Brunei is not a desert, the environment is equatorial rainforest. It’s a small country on the island of Borneo, bordered by Malaysia. He stuck them all in garages/warehouses, where the environment ate them alive.
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
08/12/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 0
Interesting, but perhaps a bit much. I like the idea of a V12, but I’d almost rather have an R129 with an I6 and a manual transmission, something that’s also probably quite rare. This despite knowing that Mercedes doesn’t know how to make a decent manual transmission shift linkage; the SLK I test drove and considering purchasing new was accurately described in many a motoring magazine as having a linkage that felt like stirring a bucket of ice cubes with a broom handle...
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
08/12/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 0
The Sultan is a total douche that’s why. Total scum.
"Richard B." (94320cecabsportline-amg)
02/24/2018 at 01:30, STARS: 0
Pathetic I know but he actually bought one for each of his family(including wives)!