In 1998, at the Turin Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the updated SL range: the R129 series.
One year later, one of the best versions, the SL55 AMG was unveiled.

The times when a bigger engine meant a faster car were almost gone in 1999. The European customers didn’t look only for higher output. They required a better handling and a smoother ride. For these aspects, the SL55 AMG was considered by many as a better car than the more powerful SL73 AMG. While the lesser version featured a V8, the latter was fitted with a V12 unit, and the car was 160 kg (351.7 lbs) heavier.

From the outside, the SL55 AMG featured a narrow front grille with horizontal slats. The new, rectangular, headlights were fitted with integrated turn-signals on their outer side. On the front fenders, behind the wheels, the AMG installed a specific air-vent to release the air from the front wheel-wells.

Inside, the car featured a luxurious interior with leather upholstery and wood grain on the dashboard, center stack, and console. The five-dial instrument cluster offered information about six car parameters and an elegant analog clock. A small LCD was installed on the bottom of the centrally mounted speedometer.

Power came from a 5.4-liter V8 engine with three valves per cylinder. It was mated to a standard 5-speed automatic gearbox.