To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' London event, 24 October
2019.
Estimate:
£180,000 - £220,000
- Offered from the Youngtimer Collection
- Less than 950 km from new
- One of only 350 examples produced
As the flagship of the R230 generation of Mercedes-Benz's SL, the
SL 65 AMG sat in an enviable position. Bestowed with an AMG-tuned
6.0-litre V-12 twin-turbocharged engine, it offered twelve-cylinder
performance that rivalled competition from the likes of Bentley's
Continental GTC and the Ferrari California. The ideal autobahn
cruiser, the SL 65 AMG was the industry gold standard for luxury
convertibles and could easily serve as a daily driver should its
lucky owner so desire, perfectly balancing performance and
comfort.
Looking to up the performance ante towards the end of the R230's
production run, the engineers at AMG decided to put the SL 65 on a
diet and see how much performance they could extract from their
flagship offering. Dubbed the SL 65 AMG Black Series, this new car
shared only the doors and side mirrors with its donor. The car's
hard-top convertible roof was replaced with a fixed roof, and all
body panels were replaced with new carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic
panels. The boot lid received a massive rear spoiler. Overall, the
Black Series was an incredible 4.5 inches wider at the front and
4.1 inches wider at the rear, giving the car a much more menacing
stance.
This particular SL 65 AMG Black Series presents beautifully,
finished in the quintessential Paladium Silver over a Black Nappa
interior trimmed in both leather and Alcantara. Showing less than
950 km from new, it goes without saying that it is in exceptional
condition both inside and out. Built to European/R.O.W.
specifications, as this car is, the SL 65 Black Series shed 340
pounds over the SL 65 AMG through the prolific use of carbon fibre,
removing the side airbags and the standard electronic braking
system, and fitting lightweight racing seats.
With 661 bhp and 738 foot-pounds of torque on tap, making this the
most powerful Mercedes-Benz ever produced at the time, it goes
without saying that the SL 65 AMG Black Series is an absolute blast
to drive. Having been driven less than 950 km from new, this is an
incredible opportunity to acquire a virtually as-new Black Series
for the individual that missed out on acquiring one new a decade
ago.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf19.