After a scorching bidding battle, a silver 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL just sold for $90,000 on auction. The reason, a naturally aspirated V12 engine, timeless design, and power by RENNtech.
Large, naturally aspirated engines have become relics in most performance cars. They mark an era where cylinders, valves, cams, and displacement ruled the road, a long time before turbo and superchargers were commonplace parts.
For a brief period the Mercedes-Benz M120, a 6-liter, 48 valve, DOHC, V12 -engine, ruled the planet of power. Silky smooth, endless amount of torque, and singing a glorious hymn of twelve cylinders, tuned versions (M279) of the engine found its way into legendary racing and performance cars of the 20th and 21st century. Mercedes-Benz ruled the FIA GT Championships with the AMG tuned M297 in the CLK GTR, Horacio Pagani chose it for the Zonda, and RENNtech used it to blow the doors off anything street legal.
With high-lift camshafts, titanium valves, high-flow exhaust and a revised ECU, the RENNtech M120 7.4 -liter develops up to 585 HP and 601 lb ft of torque, turning the sophisticated SL into a tire-smoking, highway missile capable of out-running and gunning most contemporary grand tourers.
Fortunately, 25 years later, RENNtech continues to build these magnificent made-to-order engines at their headquarters in Stuart, FL. For customers who wish to combine race-car power with the classic lines and style of their R129 SL -series, W140 S-Class or C-140 CL, Feyhl and his team of old-guard tuners can restore a car from the frame up, or modify an existing engine in the same meticulous way as they did three decades ago – by hand and one at a time.
For more about RENNtech and RENNtech Classics, please visit www.renntechmercedes.com or click the button below.
