Mercedes-Benz creates some great sports cars, there are dozens made year after year and choosing some of the greatest isn't easy. There are cars ranging from the outrageous to the refined and everything in between. There are even cars in this list which cost millions of dollars and are true collectors items for wealthy Mercedes aficionados.
Elsewhere, there are vehicles which provide some great thrills and ones which have seen their already exciting nature amplified with special editions created to improve on perfection. Below are some of the greatest sports cars ever produced by Mercedes.
10 CLK63 AMG Black Series
As one of the more aggressive looking Mercedes, the CLK63 AMG Black Series takes an already great AMG vehicle with Mercedes beefing it up and making it even more powerful.
The car sees an increase of power taking the already powerful 6.2-liter V8 all the way up to 500 hp. There also some handling updates to make the car gripper whilst on track and the stiffened suspension helps make the car responsive around the bends and certainly makes it more driver focused than the standard model.
9 SLS AMG Black Series
As one of the greats from the whole Mercedes lineup, the SLS saw an upgraded version of the already awesome SLS AMG meaning the SLS went out with a bang as its final model back in 2014.
The Black Series model had a power output of 622 hp over the base model's 563 hp and this meant a top speed of 196 mph. Elsewhere, the car was given a few subtle changes with the new black rims as well as a new black rear spoiler making it the best version of arguably Mercedes best ever car.
8 SLR McLaren 722
One of the more special cars in Mercedes lineup, the SLR McLaren was a collaboration between Mercedes and McLaren, bringing two giants in the car industry together to make one of the best cars in the world at the time.
The 722 model was even more unique as it was both incredibly rare and incredibly fast. Only 150 models were produced and those lucky few were presented with a car that could achieve a 0-60 mph time in 3.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 209 mph. The 722 refers to the start time (7:22 am) of a race won by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR driven by legendary racing driver Stirling Moss in 1955.
7 300SL Gull-Wing
A car that manages to still inspire a number of Mercedes vehicles to this day with its shape and gull-wing doors, the 300SL Gull-Wing is almost certainly the most iconic car in this list, and maybe even Mercedes as a whole.
The styling is the thing that sets it apart from the rest, and this has led to it becoming one of the most valuable cars in the world. Back in 1955, the car could be purchased in the US for $6,820 (around $70,000 now) but since then, a 300SL has been sold at auction for $4.62 million. The car was also fast, back in its day, the 300SL was the fastest production car in the world with a top speed of 163 mph.
6 CLK GTR
For sure one of the most ridiculous looking, and fastest, cars on this list, the CLK GTR is exactly what it looks like, a race car.
Despite its looks, the CLK GTR is actually road legal, although the complications that could come with driving such a car on public roads may be a little too much for the ordinary person to handle. Nevertheless, the car came with a 6.9-liter V12 and was at the time, the most expensive production car in the world at just under $1.6 million. The car could reach 214 mph and was about the closest thing anyone could ever get to driving a racecar on the road, given that it basically was one.
5 SL 65 AMG Black Series
Another beefed up Mercedes is the SL65 AMG Black Series. This is one of the finest examples of a Black Series car, with massive changes to both styling and performance.
The huge body kit applied to the car dwarfs the original, and a reduction in weight and an increase in power attempt to make it one of Mercedes fastest ever cars. Although it achieves a 200 mph top speed, the car was not for the feint of heart, as despite its numerous handling upgrades, the car is said to handle wildly and the explosion of speed means it is best suited to straight line performance.
4 190SL
For a true classic, the styling of the 190SL is timeless and iconic. However, an interesting fact about the 190SL is that it was actually created as a cheaper alternative to the 300SL we spoke about earlier, but has since become a classic in its own right.
Some models came with a removable hardtop, although it's perhaps best to experience the luxurious 190 with the roof down. Unlike a lot of other cars in this list, the 190SL is built for comfort and smooth driving rather than the aggressive handling and speed.
3 AMG GT R
The Mercedes-AMG GT is the replacement for the already fast SLS. Since the car came out in 2014, there have been a number of improved versions, and one of the wildest of them all is the AMG GTR.
It keeps up the tradition of black wheels and black spoiler, but this new and improved version. 0-60 mph is possible in around 3.6 seconds, and interestingly, the car actually loses a lot of features found on other versions of the GT in order to save on weight. The GTR is definitely more for track performance than daily commuting.
2 SLK 55 AMG
The Mercedes SLK 55 AMG is a modern great from the Mercedes lineup with sleek and understated styling and some great performance in a convertible format. It may be one of the best all-rounders in Mercedes history.
Both thrilling and efficient, the SLK 55 AMG comes equipped with a 5.5-liter V8 and manages to stay comfortable despite the engine that lies underneath. It's also capable of achieving over 33 mpg with an interring ability where it can deactivate 4 of the 8 cylinders for improved efficiency.
1 SL600 R129
The SL600 certainly looks the part and back in the early 90s, the car was one of the most technologically advanced cars on the road.
Despite the unassuming looks, the SL600 hides a 440 hp V12 in some versions, capable of taking the car to 60 mph in under 6 seconds. As well as advanced safety features, the car came with an innovative adaptive damping system and a feature that allowed for the driver to save the position of the inside mirrors as part of the memory function.