Since the debut of the Gullwing, the absolute pinnacle of automotive engineering, Mercedes has sold more than one million roadsters.

Since its inception in 1954, Mercedes' largest seller has been their trademark SL-Class.  More than fifty years later, the SL-Class is now in its fifth generation, and to date over 600,000 have been sold.  The current incarnation alone commands a 40 percent market share with over 100,000 being sold since 2001.

The SLK-Class, introduced in 1996, has produced equally impressive numbers.  To date, over 400,000 SLK models have been sold, commanding a 43 percent market share in western Europe.

I don't think Mercedes will ever be able to recreate a car that possesses as much magic as the Gullwing, nor should they try. The Gullwing is like a Van Gogh, or a Rembrandt - it simply is a work of art.  I do feel, however, that the SL-Class sets the standard for the entire Mercedes line, and will always be the most coveted of Mercedes' offerings.

You can read the press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Dream Car Milestone In Stuttgart: More Than One Million Mercedes Roadsters Sold Since 1954

Stuttgart, Sep 09, 2005

Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than one million roadsters to customers since the legendary “Gullwing” celebrated its premiere 51 years ago. That makes Mercedes the world’s leading supplier of premium-class sports cars.

With the introduction of the SL in 1954, Mercedes-Benz laid the foundation for a successful family of models that is now in its fifth generation and still represents some of the world’s most popular dream machines. More than 600,000 SL sports cars have been sold to date. The current version of the SL-Class has been thrilling drivers around the world since 2001. With total sales of over 100,000 units and a market share of over 40 per cent, this model is at the top of its segment worldwide.

A similar success has been posted by the SLK-Class, which made its debut in 1996. The latest model of this compact Mercedes roadster is the world’s number one car in its class. The open-top two-seater with the innovative Vario roof has a market share of approximately 43 per cent in western Europe, while about half of the premium com-pact roadsters in Germany bear the SLK nameplate. All in all, Mercedes-Benz has delivered about 400,000 SLK roadsters to customers since 1996.

Mercedes-Benz has nine models in its roadster line-up:

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