The “Mille Miglia Edition 2003” boasts a number of features which emphasise its exclusive status, including special “Silver Arrow” metallic paint, waistline trim strips in aluminium with a dull lustre, eye-catching 18-inch light-alloy wheels, wide tyres (front: 255/40 ZR 18, rear: 285/35 ZR 18) and “Mille Miglia” badges on the front-wing ventilation “gills” and the boot lid. A glass version of the innovative vario-roof, which transforms the SL-Class from open-top roadster to weatherproof coupé at the touch of a button, is fitted on the special-edition model, allowing the passengers to enjoy a unique panoramic view of the world.
Top-quality two-tone nappa leather appointments are one of the hallmarks of the special-edition interior. The seats come in classic red, a trend-setting feature of the legendary SL sports car of the 1950s. The roof lining is adorned with soft Alcantara and the trim elements on the centre console and doors are distinguished by aluminium with a dull lustre.
The designers used innovative laser technology to incorporate both the “Mille Miglia” logo and a depiction of the route for the 1000-mile race into the leather covers of the head restraints, creating another highly distinctive charac-teristic for the exclusive special-edition SL. Opening the doors reveals illuminated stainless-steel door sill panels bearing “Mille Miglia Edition 2003” lettering, a feature they share with the chrome badge on the automatic transmission selector lever.
The special-edition model is fitted with a wide range of equipment as standard, including the control and display system COMAND, parking aid PARKTRONIC, multicontour backrests, CD changer, sound system and electrically folding exterior mirrors. The powerful V6 engine under the bonnet is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission as standard.
The Mille Miglia was first run in 1927 and a further 23 editions of the race followed in the years up to 1957. Mercedes-Benz contested the race for the first time in 1952, with Karl Kling driving his 300 SL to second place in the overall classification. In 1955, Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson took the race victory in a 300 SLR, with Juan Manuel Fangio following them home in second.
Text and photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler AG
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