The Mercedes-AMG SL73 was a rare R129 roadster with a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V12, but it reportedly wasn’t sold like a regular showroom Mercedes. According to an October 6, 2026, AOL article, customers bought a new SL600 and sent it to AMG for conversion—a process that helps explain why this powerful V12 is so unusual.
Why couldn’t you buy an SL73 like a regular Mercedes?
The SL73 emerged in the period before Mercedes-Benz fully took over AMG in 1999. AOL’s account says a customer first purchased a new SL600, then had AMG convert it into an SL73, rather than ordering a factory-listed SL73 through a Mercedes showroom. That acquisition history is reported by AOL; it is not independently confirmed here.
The reported 1999 conversion charge was 99,180 Deutsche Marks. For context, AOL gives a starting price of 223,330 Deutsche Marks for a 1995 SL600. Those are figures from different model years, so they illustrate the scale of the conversion charge but are not a like-for-like price comparison.
What changed between the SL600 and SL73?
The SL600 was the donor car. AOL describes it as having a 6.0-liter V12 rated at 389 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. The SL73 used an enlarged, naturally aspirated 7.3-liter development of the M120 V12, with reported output of 518 hp and 553 lb-ft.
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| Detail | SL600 | SL73 |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship | Base car purchased by the customer, according to AOL | AMG conversion of a customer-supplied SL600, according to AOL |
| Engine | 6.0-liter V12, as reported by AOL | Naturally aspirated 7.3-liter M120 development, as reported by AOL |
| Output | 389 hp and 420 lb-ft, as reported by AOL | 518 hp and 553 lb-ft, as reported by AOL |
These specifications are reported by AOL’s October 6, 2026, article, not independently verified against an AMG factory data sheet. The same article estimates about 4.5 seconds from 0 to 60 mph and a top speed of up to 199 mph when unrestricted; those performance figures are also reported estimates, not independently verified test results.
How rare was the SL73?
AOL places SL73 production between 1997 and 2001, but the total is uncertain. It reports two estimates: about 80 cars, attributed to Motor Trend, and 85, attributed to WhichCar. The underlying Motor Trend and WhichCar items were not independently retrieved, so neither estimate should be treated as a definitive production count.
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What is the Pagani connection?
AOL places the SL73’s V12 in the AMG engine lineage related to engines used by Pagani in the Zonda. The connection is about lineage, not identity: the article notes that Pagani’s engines were not identical to the SL73’s.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the reported prices say about the car today?
AOL also gives an auction range of $445,000–$610,000, but the retrieved article material does not identify transaction dates, specific cars, or the basis for that range. It cannot establish a current market value. Treat it as an undated figure reported in that article, not as a present-day price guide.
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