Nobody really needs reminding now what a great time for cars the early 2000s was. There was such variety and such choice, compared to both what had come before and also immediately after, from the resurgence of the hot hatch to a fine run of sports coupes in the middle of the noughties. The appeal 20 years later is clear, with interesting engines and cool design alongside levels of usability and safety that (mostly) remain acceptable. There are even one or two that are still cheap…
A Mercedes of the era, be it AMG badged or not, is never far from temptation. While quality may not have been what it was in the late 20th century - so it wasn’t a great time to incorporate a wealth of new technology - an abundance of big engines in cool cars for not much money makes them intriguing in 2025. A CLK500, for example, may not be the greatest coupe in the world, but offers up 300hp and pillarless swag for a few grand. An S600 may eventually bankrupt you, but what a stylish way to do it. And let’s not start on where a 6.2-litre M156 goes best.
The R230-era SL55s must still be some of the most desirable AMGs of the time. Afflaterbach-modified versions of the old R129 were much harder to come by, back when AMG was less embedded in the Mercedes machine, but by the time of the 55’s arrival in 2002 the AMG magic was much more widely available. It brought hardtop luxury, stunning good looks and a rip-snorting V8 to the (relative) masses.
They’ve been affordable for a little while, probably owing to their complexity and running costs, a £12,995 Brave Pill emerging at the end of 2022. This one, however, is no ordinary SL55, not least because it costs more than four times that. It’s a Carlsson-modified car, subjected to almost £30,000 of work back in the day for those who found a standard AMG insufficiently powerful and too visually timid.
Not many took Carlsson up on their offer, but it makes their wares super interesting these days. The thousands spent on this one were to convert it to RS580 spec, meaning upgrades to the supercharger, intake, exhaust, and software for 580bhp (588hp) and a speed limit. Additionally, it received Carlsson’s unmistakable forged wheels, a lower ride height for the air suspension, and some extra interior carbon fibre. Quite some undertaking, and executed on this car not long after new.
Since then, it’s covered little more than 20,000 miles, with loads of main dealer history to its name and what looks like superb condition. It’s easy to be a little hypnotised by the condition of those wheels, for example. What might have looked a bit bling back in the days (remember when that was a saying) is now an endearing period mod. Both Tanzanite Blue paint and Alpaca Grey leather look fantastic. So while it is an awful lot more than any equivalent 55 - they’re still available from £13k, and the latest, lowest mileage ones are £30k - it really does seem like something special. For the ultimate in early-2000s excess, what could be better than a Carlsson-tuned AMG drop-top?
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