Lot Ended
Description
Only 58,270 miles from new; 8 service stamps, the last only 125 miles
ago; Panoramic roof; ABC suspension; supercharged 5.5 V8 with 493bhp and 700NM;
epic performance at a Poundshop price
Jeremy Clarkson
gets to drive more cars in a year than most people do in a lifetime so when a
test car impresses him so much that he actually buys one, you know it’s got to
be special.
Which is exactly what he did after
testing one of these bad boys. The most powerful production car to storm out of
the factory gates, the Mercedes SL55 AMG was launched in 2002 and remained in
production until 2008 when it was replaced by the even more bonkers
SL63.
While it was the immense 493bhp that
grabbed all the headlines, the really astounding figure was the torque generated
by the supercharged V8. With 520lb/ft available at just 2,650rpm, the SL55 could
literally melt its tyres away from the lights but was also a pussycat around
town if you weren’t in the mood for fireworks, with a magic carpet ride when
fitted with optional ABC suspension (as here).
It could sprint to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds with a top speed limited
to 155mph, although AMG engineers did over 205mph in unlimited but otherwise
unmodified test cars.
Costing some £90k at
launch before any options were added, ownership was always going to be
restricted to a privileged Clarkson-like few and only around 1,500 were sold in
the UK, so seeing one on the road today is always quite an event and makes it a
sure-fire classic of the future.
First registered
in December 2002, this particular AMG has covered 58,266 miles with a good
service history comprising 8 stamps in the book, the last in November 2024 since
when it has only covered 125 miles. This was a major service including the diff
and the gearbox so it will only need a B service in around 9,000 miles time.
Our vendor, the 6th owner, acquired
the car via Brightwells in early 2021 (for considerably more than the guide
price suggested here) at which point it had covered 56,670 miles. He promptly
sent it to Merc specialist Wright-Tech UK of Sidcup for a service and check-over
which cost just over £4,000 and included new engine and gearbox mountings; new
belts, pulleys and tensioners; new brake discs and pads all round; plus all the
usual service items. They have serviced it twice more since, despite the low
mileage covered (invoices on file).
As you can
see in the photos, it looks great in Obsidian Black with Gray leather trim and a
smoked glass Panoramic roof with dark tinted side windows. It is packed with all
the usual R230 luxuries including heated electric seats with massage function,
ABC air suspension with adjustable ride height and firmness, Xenon headlamps,
parking sensors, premium sound system etc (see last photo for original spec -
current wheels are 19").
Starting promptly and
running well as we have moved it around on site, it has an MOT until November
2025 with no advisories recorded. There are no warning lights on the
dash and the roof works as it should. It also has all its original
handbooks and two keys.
Only for sale because
our vendor has too many cars and not enough time to enjoy them all, this
epic machine is on offer here at a very enticing guide price. Go on, you only
live once…
Consigned by James Dennison –
07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com