2005 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR

Sport. Leicht. Rennsport.

There aren’t many cars the high side of the year 2000 that upon launch were instant icons. The three that stand out the most are the Ferrari Enzo, the Porsche Carrera GT, and the car we present here, the Mercedes-McLaren SLR. A joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, the car was conceptualised as an homage to the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR of 1955. With the Formula 1 partnership between the two companies, there was a significant pooling of resources that allowed the stylists and engineers to really come up with something that was groundbreaking, whilst also drawing on the rich automotive history they both shared. With such history, Mercedes-Benz drew on one of its most significant cars most recognisable design features in the automotive world, Gullwing doors.

With Mercedes-Benz responsible for the styling and mission brief, McLaren was responsible for pretty much everything under the skin. When it was launched, the SLR featured many things that today we take for granted in a supercar, but back then were about as exotic as it gets. Standard carbon ceramic brakes with eight piston calibers meant the car could be hauled down from 200+mph with incredible force time and time again, whilst the aerodynamics featured an airbrake that could be deployed to up to 30 degrees to provide amazing stability and force distribution under brakes.

The supercharged 5.4L hand built engine was an absolute monster producing some 460kw at 7000rpm and 780nm of torque and also produced a sound that was pure automotive excess. Deep and full of bass from the side-exit exhaust, then overlaid with a screaming blower whine further up in the rev-range, it is a car you can feel as well as hear coming.

Across all sorts of testing, the SLR became renowned for feeling much stronger than the numbers suggested and had in-gear acceleration that set records for a production car. One US company that provided paying customers the experience of travelling at 200mph said that the SLR was the only car in their fleet that ALWAYS delivered 200mph effortlessly, when other cars such as the then new Murcielago, 599GTB and Corvette ZR-1 had to have “just right” conditions.

Presented in flawless Crystal Laurite Silver over contrasting Anthracite Leather this stunning SLR has only covered an unbelievably low 2820klms. Delivered new in the United States to its one and only owner and driven sparingly, he then took it to Japan where it has resided until recently. Completely original and unmolested throughout, this car is even wearing its original tyres fitted at the McLaren factory in Surrey, England and they would need to be replaced before driving the car with vigour.

The SLR is now eligible for Australian compliance for registration. Precedence has now been set and confirmed with the first SLR on full registration. We have had this confirmed by the authorities. This particular vehicle was delivered new into the USA and remained under single owner custodianship until we imported. As such, it remains a one-owner vehicle.

With just 2,157 produced across all variants, the SLR is a rarity and a particularly desirable automotive artwork. We feel at CHROME TEMPLE the SLR has huge upside potential and will reward its new owner as a thing of beauty, an intoxicating and exhilarating driving experience and a financially rewarding custodianship.