A rare Mercedes-Benz SL with a 7.3-liter engine and minimal mileage went under the hammer (31 photos)

In the late 1990s, Mercedes-Benz, with the participation of AMG, which had just become part of the concern, produced, according to various estimates, from 50 to 85 copies of the SL 73 AMG with a monumental 7.3-liter V12. One was up for auction at Collecting Cars and fetched £340,000. The high rate is explained not only by the rarity of the modification, but also by the merits of the car itself.





The 7.3 engine was developed on the basis of the then standard 6-liter V12. In addition to the increase in volume, the engine was equipped with new shafts, titanium pistons, an upgraded valve system, an alternative exhaust and a number of other improvements. Later, AMG produced the same unit in an additionally modified version for the Italians from Pagani, who installed it on the Zonda supercar. The power plant is considered one of the most voluminous in the history of road Mercedes-Benz.

On the SL 73 AMG the engine developed 525 hp. With. and 750 Nm. Working in tandem with a 5-speed automatic, the engine accelerated the gran tourer to 100 km/h in approximately 4.5 seconds. The top speed was traditionally limited to 250 km/h, but after removing the limiter the car could reach 320 km/h.

This particular example was originally produced as a standard SL 600 and was kept in the collection of the Brunei royal family. After the appearance of the SL 73 AMG modification, the grand tourer was sent back to the factory, where the power unit was reworked to the appropriate specifications, as well as changes to the exterior, suspension and interior.

What makes the Mercedes-Benz SL 73 AMG particularly attractive to fans is its meager mileage. It is also believed to be one of only two examples to leave the production line in right-hand drive. The car is now in the UK, where it was transported in 2017.