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photos via edmunds inside line

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL reinvented the make on a world stage by winning the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1952 Carrera Panamericana, and the 300 SL’s unique gullwing-style doors gave the production car that followed a look that has been identified with Mercedes-Benz ever since. Mercedes has taken home more then its share of motor sport trophies wince then, but few have the legendary appeal f the SL. Match it up with AMG power and you’ve got a vehicle fans will be drooling over later this month in Germany.

Edmunds states it best: “The 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG might look like the SL Gullwing of the 1950s, but it’s clearly meant to challenge the best of today’s exotic sports cars, like the Audi R8, the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 Turbo.”

The SLK production model will be a spin off of the already popular Mercedes SLC. SLK will contain a hybrid drive train, with a top electric range of 120 miles. But this decision on entrance structure isn’t just nostalgic, it is believed to be quite functional.

Mercedes intends on installing the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery packs in the side sills. This area would need to accommodate extra space needed for those packs. Hinges placed on the roof instead of past the fender, thus causing the doors to open upwards instead of out, would be the best possible option.

Reports state the SLK hybrid can keep up with the average 40 mile range of most alternative energy vehicles while still maintaining 0-60 in five seconds. That power comes from an advanced 3.5 liter V6, which produces 300 horse power with a top speed of 155 miles her hour. Watch for the Mercedes SLK Hybrid Gullwing in 2011.

It looks like the rumors are true about a possible 2011 SLC Gull-wing edition from Mercedes. These spy shots depict a SLC parked outside some testing facility with door hanging open (and hopefully no the keys in the ignition!). Haven’t seen much referring to a price so far, but expect this V12-engined beast to pack quite a punch in your wallet.

Gull-wing doors still get looks in the 21st century, so imagine the response you would receive in 1952, when the 300SL came out with its high-opening doors. Mercedes-Benz’s 300SL was also the first to have a fuel injection engine. The model continued successfully throughout the 1950′s, and these days will run a collector as much as $400,000.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren continued the gull-wing door tradition of the 300SLR from 1955. McLaren designers and engineers created this mid-engine roadster in 2003 and have sold many with a base price of just under $500,000. The McLaren SLR has been praised as being fastest automatic transmission car in the world.