Special Edition SL 'Mille Miglia 417'
Mercedes-Benz celebrates the 60th anniversary of a memorable motor racing success with an extraordinary special model of the SL Roadster. Its name commemorates the unexpected victory of a 300 SL in the production sports cars class at the 1955 'Mille Miglia', one of the world's most challenging long-distance races. What's more: the SL Special Edition 'Mille Miglia 417' provides a special experience of the unique symbiosis of maximum comfort and motor racing spirit that traditionally characterizes every SL. The Special Edition adds a distinctive note, among other things, with red exterior highlights and fine materials in the exclusively appointed interior.The Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is more than an icon. Passion shapes its character and its charisma – in the past and today. Legendary vehicles and their stories dominate the model history. One of them is told by the SL that started the famous 'Mille Miglia' in 1955 with race number 417 at 4:17 am. After 11 hours, 29 minutes and 21 seconds it had completed the race distance of 1597 kilometres on public roads from Brescia to Rome and back. Driven by the American private driver John Fitch with assistance from his co-driver Kurt Gessl, it crossed the finish line to great acclaim in fifth place of the overall standings and as the winner of the production sports cars, leaving numerous racing prototypes behind. Production 300 SL cars also took second and third place in this class.
After 60 years the new SL Special Edition 'Mille Miglia 417' now expresses the laudatory proclamation about this victory and the car with race number 417. For this reason Mercedes-Benz also integrated the legendary number '417' into the badge of this special model as a reminder – a symbol for the passion that helps shape the charisma of every SL Roadster.
Performance, pronounced sportiness and innovative roadster comfort are hallmark fundamental features that also distinguish the Special Edition 'Mille Miglia 417'. The eight-cylinder engine in the SL550 with 429 hp enables top sporting performance. The standard ESP® Curve Dynamic Assist and an adaptive adjustable damping system deliver sporty lateral dynamics while offering outstanding comfort at the same time.
The design of the Mille Miglia Edition meets high aesthetic standards and underscores its spirit with stylish red highlights. Red is the color of the lip on the front spoiler, and a red trim strip on the rear spoiler contrasts with the matte carbon. Red brake callipers gleam through the spokes of the black AMG Performance wheels, which sport subtle red surrounds and have diameters of 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear.
The Special Edition 'Mille Miglia 417' comes standard with a designo night black magno matte paint finish. The designo paintwork lends the vehicle an individual and exclusive character.
Mercedes-Benz has further upgraded the luxurious yet sporty interior with fine materials and meticulous master craftsmanship. The AMG Line seats as well as the black center console with contrasting inlays and red edging are eye-catching features. The leather headrests feature an embossed carbon structure and an embroidered 'SL Mille Miglia' label. Red edging also outlines the black door center panels with red armrests and red seatbelts also adorn the interior. The easy-to-grip steering wheel is wrapped in red and black nappa leather with sporty embossed carbon structure which bolsters the sporty ambience. The trim elements have a matte carbon finish. The black floor mats with red edging sport an embroidered '1000 Miglia' label.
The SL Special Edition 'Mille Miglia 417' will be available as an SL550 in the Ú.S. in the fall of 2015, and pricing will be announced closer to the market launch.
More information about Mercedes-Benz is available online at www.media.mbusa.comSource - Mercedes-Benz
Related Reading : Mercedes-Benz SL-Class History
Max Hoffman was responsible for the sporty two-seat Mercedes-Benz 190SL sports car. The S represented Sports while the L meant Light or Sehr Leicht. With a curb weight of 2560 pounds, it was hardly light when compared with other vehicles in its class, some 500 through 1000 pounds less. It was however an excellent alternative to the higher-priced Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The gullwing-door 300SL was....
Continue Reading >>
Continue Reading >>
Mercedes-Benz
Recent Vehicle Additions
Performance and Specification Comparison
Related Automotive News
Talk on racing legend Nuvolari set for Nov. 2 at IMRRC
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Oct. 18, 2013) - Legendary Italian racer Tazio Nuvolari will be the subject of a Center Conversations talk on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Long fascinated with...
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013: auction of Mercedes-Benz W 196 R one of highlights at world's 'largest motorised garden party'
Mercedes-Benz Classic presents great moments in motor-racing history at Goodwood
Motorsport festival celebrating its 20th anniversary
Auction of only privately owned post-war Silver Arrow by Bonhams sure to cause a stir
Stuttgart – This...
RM Auctions Announces New Paris Sale To Take Place During Retromobile Week
RM Auctions expands European presence with all-new sale in Paris during the Retromobile show week
Auction to be held within the beautiful surroundings of Les Invalides in central Paris, 4-5 February, 2014
Magnificent ex-works Gordini 24S alr...
1955 Tourist Trophy: One Last Victory
The tragedy at Le Mans on the 11th of June, 1955 would dramatically affect motor racing. For one of the manufacturers involved, Mercedes-Benz, it would be a confirmation of what it had already come to believe. Toward the end of the 1955 season it was...
Mercedes-Benz Classic at the 2012 Grossglockner Grand Prix
Revival of the mountain race from the 1930s
Mercedes-Benz SSK and W 125 at the start
92 bends, 14 hairpins, 15 kilometres and a 1300-metre altitude difference
The Grossglockner mountain race was one of the most prestigious motor sports event...