Even as ridiculous AMG products go, the
SL65 Black Series
was one of the silliest. Apparently having learnt little from the SLK Black, AMG again decided to begin with a convertible and make it a fixed roof coupe. It then installed a 6.0-litre bi-turbo V12 with so much torque that a five-speed auto had to be used to avoid destroying the seven-speed 'box. Don't forget perhaps the rudest set of rear wheel arches ever seen on a road car too.
Insert 'on steroids' cliche here
AMG seems to have the knack of these Black Series specials now. Perhaps the best move it made was sticking to coupes (the
CLK
C63
SLS
make quite a triumvirate) and the rumoured A45 BS could be spectacular. But there's something appealing about the SL's patent absurdity.
The transformation from SL65 to Black was considerable. Ditching the folding metal roof saved 250kg, those fantastically swollen arches cloaked tracks widened 97mm at the front and 85mm behind, the ABC suspension was switched for coilovers and the steering was quicker too, just 1.7 turns lock to lock.
As could have been predicted though, the SL65 BS driving experience was dominated for good and bad reasons by the powertrain. The gearbox's age became all too apparent very early on and yet the devastating engine felt no less intimidating despite only operating through five ratios. Limited to 199mph, the SL's real top speed was somewhere in the region of 220mph. It understeered a fair bit by the sounds of it but as the ultimate German muscle car it must take some beating. With only eight making it to Britain it's exceptionally rare as well.
Will that guarantee a future value? At £200,000 the Black Series has only lost 20 per cent of its purchase price after four years and 1,300 miles. With some
Black Series CLKs
on POA and the cheapest at £60K, it too has proved fairly resilient to depreciation.
But of course there's actually a far more interesting Mercedes comparison to make. £200K also buys an SLR McLaren, another 600hp+ Mercedes curio with a five-speed auto and very low mileage in this case. Don't forget the SLS Black as well. Now there's a decision to make.
MERCEDES SL65 AMG BLACK SERIES
Engine: 5,980cc twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Five-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 670@5,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 737@2,200-4,200rpm
MPG: 19.8
CO2: 344g/km
First registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 1,770
Price new: £250,000
Yours for: £199,850
See the original advert here.