Just Mercedes corporate at work. I believe that in 1994 they switched over from 500SL to SL500. They did this with all their vehicles.

By the way, WELCOME to the boards.

500sl - Sl500?
 

What is the difference?

SL500 500SL difference
 

For model year '95, MB changed the 129 designations to reflect the upsizing of the engine displacement.

Starting in 1994, the badging system went from a numbers first system (500SL, 300E, 560SEL), to a letters first system (E320, C280, SL500), etc.

The engine size and the car is the same.

I stand corrected! ... still,

300SL = 3.0 liter
SL320 = 3.2 liter

but that change is obviosuly noted in the model number, not the placement of the sport leicht designation.

- michael

SL - what's it mean?
 

SL was supposed to mean stand for "very light" but by the time production plans were finalized, MB had added so much structural strength that the weight hardly qualified it as such.

Wanting to retain the "SL" designation, they decided to change it to "SPORT LIGHT".

At least that's what the books say!

- michael

ah - I wondered what SL stood for!!