With a 6.0-liter V-12 from the factory, the 1998 Mercedes SL600 already came with a massive engine. But the geniuses at RENNtech recognized that there’s no such thing as “too much power.” They bored out the engine to an obnoxious 7.4 liters, creating the SL74.
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Amazingly, though, Renntech did not turn this 575-hp monster into some sort of track-focused, overly stiff sports car. Instead, the SL74 preserved the SL’s reputation as an effortlessly quick grand tourer. Of course, with 600 lb-ft of torque, tire shredding was still in the cards, but this was no race car. Think 1998, German Hellcat. Fast cruising, plush ride, and lots of rubber ripping grunt.
The difference is that the SL74 did this with no forced induction, firm in the knowledge that there’s no replacement for displacement. Few cars since have come with bigger engines, with even Rolls-Royces and heavy-duty trucks rarely cresting 7.0 liters. Sure, a Viper or a Bugatti has you beat, but neither of those has the effortless style of the SL. If that sounds intriguing, a gorgeous silver SL74 with 50,000 miles is up for sale right now.
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