I’ve always loved the Mercedes-Benz SL. While never as overtly sporty as rivals from Porsche or BMW, it’s hard to argue with it as a stylish and powerful grand tourer, no matter which generation you choose.
Although the SL name began with the 300SL Gullwing race car of the 1950s, the grand touring roadster lineage dates back to the 190 SL, which came out around the same time. Sleek and stylish but ultimately underpowered with only 105 horsepower from a 1.9-liter inline-four, it carved out a niche of people who wanted the appearance of a sports car with the comfort and build quality of a Mercedes sedan.
