During the 1960s Mercedes-Benz began development of a line of sports cars which were characterized by high performance and also great attention to aspects of motoring that would meet the requirements of the expanding "luxury" car market sector. The acronym SL (Sport and Leicht), identifies the various models that over the years have evolved and been presented to the market. In the 1970s, the German automotive group launched the R107 and C107 series in the Roadster and Coupé versions, which went on to quickly achieve notable commercial success. Arising from the C107, the "top of the range" coupé SLC 500 evolved, the production of which, lasted for almost a decade. With a 4973cc engine capable of delivering 237 HP the Mercedes SLC 500 became a benchmark for the "premium" market, which in the 1970s, also saw the origin of some iconic models, which even now, capture the imagination and dreams of many collector and classic car enthusiasts.