Sometimes teamwork really does make the dream work.
An example of one of the finest automotive collaborations of the century, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, will be auctioned off next month by RM Sotheby’s in Phoenix. The sale represents an opportunity to buy one of the most desirable versions of an already rare sports car.
Mercedes-Benz and McLaren were Formula 1 teammates, in some form or another, between 1995 and 2014. The partnership wasn’t just limited to the track, though. Around the turn of the millennium, the two marques, along with then-independent AMG, began working on a sports car inspired by the legendary Mercedes 300 SLR that would offer top-level performance and class-leading luxury. The finished vehicle would make its debut in 2003, before launching the next year. It would be built until 2010, during which time over 2,100 examples rolled off the line, 670 of which were the open-top Roadster variant.
The SLR Roadster that will hit the block in the new year is finished in the model’s trademark color, Crystal Laurite Silver. The aerodynamic, retrofuturist-style body also features a black carbon trim package and rides on a set of 20-inch AMG wheels, through which you can see its red brake calipers. The two-seater’s interior, meanwhile, is covered in Silver Arrow 300 SL Red Leather upholstery.
The exterior isn’t the modern-day SLR’s only head-turning feature. Under the hood, you’ll find a supercharged, AMG-tuned 5.4-liter V-8. The potent mill can churn out an impressive 617 horses and 575 ft lbs of torque, all of which is sent to the rear axle by a five-speed automatic gearbox. That’s more than enough oomph to rocket the car from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and to a top speed of 206 mph. Although it’s 15 years old, this example has less than 8,000 miles on it and appears to have been kept in good shape, with maintenance records stretching back to 2014. It also comes with a car cover, convertible top cover, trickle charger, and tool kit.
The SLR Roadster is scheduled to go up for bid on Wednesday, January 25, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. RM Sotheby’s expects the car to sell for between $375,000 and $475,000. If it falls within that range, that would be a little less than the car’s original $515,000 starting price.
Click here for more photos of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster.
