∙High spec SLK R170
∙Very late production model
∙Lots of history and bills
∙Registration number not included in sale price 

The SLK – or R170 in Mercedes code - began life as a 1994 concept car shown at that year’s Paris Motor Show, and its party piece was its all-metal folding ‘Vario Roof’, which retracted in three stages and stowed neatly in the boot. That gave it the comfort of a coupé in the winter and the ability to lift your toupée in the summer – the best of both worlds.

At launch, there was just one model. The 230 Kompressor featured a 2.3-litre supercharged unit with 193 bhp and was offered with either a five-speed auto or a five-speed manual box. 

The range evolved from there, but the SLK 230 was always the best-seller, thanks to its combination of decent performance and sensible running costs. 

This example is quite a rarity. Introduced in 2003 for the final year of SLK production, the ‘Special Edition’ (Mercedes must have paid a creative agency millions to come up with the name) was an SLK like no other before it, with practically every option in the book. Heated sports seats, cruise control, exclusive instruments, flashes of titanium trim and splashes of chrome, it was a well-specified package.

And then there’s the party piece – that Vario Roof. You’ll never tire of watching it do its thing, which is a work of engineering genius. 

First registered in January 2003, the SLK has come from a private owner and is being sold on its original ‘03’ registration number and not the plate in the pictures, which the vendor is selling separately. 

It comes with a Mercedes-Benz ‘Datacard’ which shows that it left the production line in Stuttgart the previous July, a Brilliant Silver SLK 230K Special Edition in UK market spec with Anthracite leather and optional cupholders. 

The current owner is an enthusiast with a collection of modern and older classics, which he is reducing in size. 

There’s quite a bit of paperwork with the SLK, with the service book stamped by main dealers at 6,106, 19,798, 33,085, 66,019, 71,766, and 78,796 miles. It has currently covered a smidgen over 101k, so it has a mostly main dealer history. 

The original book pack is present in a leather Mercedes-Benz folder, while there’s also an owner’s manual, warranty documents and a selection of receipts. Also included is an original SLK price list and the ‘Special Edition’ brochure detailing the model’s unique specification. 

It comes with a UK V5C and an almost full MOT, valid until June 2022. 

Overall, the SLK is in smart and presentable condition and it’s still a fine looking car, especially with the roof folded away and in full-on drop top mode. It looks fabulous in Brilliant Silver, which is understandably the most popular colour for the model. 

Up close, there are a couple of small areas where this car would benefit from a little bit of fettling. There’s an area on the nearside front wing that has been resprayed and the colour match is a touch patchy, while the very bottoms of both rear wheelarches have some small rust bubbles starting to develop beneath the paint. There are also a couple of small bubbles on the offside front wing.

The six-spoke alloys look good, but up close there are a couple of scuffs and marks on them. 

None of these are major issues, though, and the SLK still looks very smart, while the ‘Special Edition’ badges on the wings are a nice touch and aren’t over-the-top.

More importantly, the Vario Roof still works perfectly, lifting itself up and away into the rear boot for storage at the touch of a button. It’s clever stuff, and surprisingly graceful to watch. 

One of the key features of the SLK Special Edition was its premium nappa leather upholstery and the Anthracite grey seats in this example are in very good order, with only a small amount of seat belt wear to the edge of the driver’s side seat and a similar small amount of wear to the leather-trimmed steering wheel.

The car also still has its ‘SLK’ Special Edition floor mats, which match the chrome-finished door kick plates. Other Special Edition features include a specially badged gear knob and white dials that were unique to the model. 

Everything operates as it should, with the only non-original part being an aftermarket stereo with USB port, which many people will view as an upgrade.

Under the bonnet, the SLK features Mercedes-Benz’s unusual but lively supercharged four-cylinder unit – Kompressor being the German word for ‘supercharger’.

With 195bhp, it’s lively enough in a small roadster-coupé, and delivers peppy acceleration. The engine sounds healthy and runs well, with no signs of any fluid leaks or untoward noises. 

We were able to drive the car a short distance and can report that the auto gearbox works well in all gears and that the steering, brakes and suspension seem to be in good shape – something that is backed up by the car passing a very recent MOT test. 

The SLK was the car that set the trend for retractable hardtops, and was a stylish and understandably popular car when new. Today, though, the R170 is becoming rarer by the day and there’s an undercurrent of collector interest in the company’s mini-SL. 

Good examples are getting increasingly hard to find, and this one has a solid history, is a rare and desirable Special Edition and is finished in the best colour. Add in a long MOT and the fact that it runs and drives really well and you’ve got a car with huge potential. 

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