Mercedes makes some very fast cars. But their personality tends to be refined and stately. You might call them the “old money” flavor of supercars. It was in line with this philosophy that the Mercedes-AMG division built a modern tribute to its 1954 300 SL “gullwing” for the 2010 model year. The result was a dramatic track monster. I think its incredibly high resale value is a testament that it still appeals to the Lamborghini crowd.

So what in the world is the 2010 SLS? Its a front/mid-engine two-seat coupe built by Mercedes. It is actually the first car fully designed by Mercedes’ AMG division. SLS stands for Super Leicht Sport and this massive coupe lives up to its name, weighing in at just 3,569 pounds. The later Black Edition would cut another 154 pounds while boosting power. So how much power did this thing make?

AMG was true to its engine-tuning roots, introducing the 2010 SLS with a 563 horsepower V8. By the end of the car’s run it had bumped that to 622 horsepower at 7,400 rpm. I know you’re asking How did you do it? Turbocharger? Supercharger? Nope, this is just a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 tuned to the absolute max. It gives some trims a 3.2 second 0-60 time, but the SLS is far from a straight-line car.

Mercedes-AMG pushed the engine far back behind the front axle. The transmission is actually a rear-mounted transaxle, shared with the Ferrari 458. That puts 54% of the vehicle’s weight at the rear, 46% up front. So how does it corner? Like a muscle car.

One of the fascinating things about the SLS 63 AMG is that it is an absolute beast. Reviewers say the rear end is constantly sliding around, and when you stomp the gas at most any speed you can break the tires loose. Many vehicles in Mercedes-AMG’s “63” lineup have the same kind of rowdy power, but the 2010-15 SLS is downright rude.

Back in 1954, Mercedes first debuted its 300 SL. This lightweight coupe is often called the first supercar. To keep its unibody tub rigid, the engineers outfitted it with recognizable gullwing doors that swing upward. Mercedes-AMG engineers decided to set the 2010 SLS up with similar doors. This wasn’t for any technological reason, it’s just cool. The result is one of the most iconic coupes around.

Many of the final naturally aspirated sports cars are holding their value well. But the SLS AMG is the king of appreciation. Note that the average Roadster is down to about $135,843. But the coupe, with its iconic doors, is holding above $200k. The highest sale this year was for a Black Series variant with low mileage that went for $975,000. Yup, that’s new Ferrari prices for a decade-old coupe. Without a V12. But with a limited run of these Mercedes’ made, something tells me they’re only going to appreciate from here.