Highlights
- 5.5 litre hand built V8
- Just 2 owners from new
- Low Mileage
- Rear subframe renewed
- Beautiful condition
The Appeal
On the face of it, it’s a simple recipe: take one small, premium roadster with an innovative folding hard top, add an AMG-sourced hand-built V8, garnish with the performance addenda required to make it handle and stop and voila! The alchemic properties of the engine alone make it an instant classic.
Now, we’re sure that the development process was a little more involved than that; the end result certainly feels very cohesive. In typical Mercedes fashion, the whole package is very well integrated and this debadged version flies nicely under the radar right until the point where you start it up. At that point there’s no disguising the mellifluous exhaust note which, to varying degrees, is ever-present on the road, just as you would hope really.
With just two owners and a full service history, this is a prime example. It’s been fastidiously looked after by its current owner who just hasn’t had the time to enjoy it and so he’s reluctantly come to the conclusion that he needs to let it go. His loss could be your gain, however. If you want a roadster that can be enjoyed all year round (thanks to the folding hard top, “air scarf” neck warmers and heated seats) and packing a glorious V8, then you’ll find it hard to do better than this one.
History and Paperwork
- Registered 7 December 2004
- With its first owner until last year
- Busy work life for the owner (and restricting himself to dry use only) means that it’s not been used as much as he would like
- Extensive history, a mix of main dealer and independent specialists
- The rear subframe was replaced under warranty by Mercedes and has a 30 year anti corrosion warranty
- The owner’s manual and audio systems instructions are present in the original zipped wallet
- MOT with no advisories valid to 21 Aug 2024
The Interior
- Black leather and Alcantara upholstery
- Comfortable but buckety electrically adjustable seats set a suitably sporting tone
- For the colder months, there’s Mercedes’ “air scarf” and heated seats
- There’s a little wear to the driver’s seat bolster but otherwise the leather is in fine condition
- Behind the chunky leather steering wheel, the dashboard presents very well for the age and mileage of the car
- Air conditioning and rain sensing wipers
- The owner tells us that everything works just as it should
- A fabric wind deflector clips into place behind the front seats
- The boot is clean and tidy
- Overall, it still feels a special place to be
The Exterior
- Iridium Silver metallic paintwork in excellent order
- AMG body kit
- Bodywork very straight with no dings or marks that we could see
- Bi-Xenon headlights
- Debadged for stealth; only AMG badges on the exhaust tips give the game away
- Small chip in windscreen (pictured)
- Slight mark behind driver’s door
- The AMG wheels are freshly refurbished and wear a matching set of Pirelli P Zero tyres with plenty of tread all round
- Roof up or down, it looks very smart indeed
The Mechanics
- Hand-built 5.5 litre AMG V8
- 7 Speed automatic transmission
- Rear wheel drive
- 6 pot front and 4 pot rear brakes
- Starts first time, every time
- Sounds fantastic on startup, and only improves on the move
- No untoward noises on the road, just sweet music from the exhaust
- Lovely to burble around in, but pulls well and stops hard when asked
Summary
A beautiful example of a fantastic all rounder. With a monstrous V8 in a folding hard top roadster, it’s fantastically versatile and already a modern classic.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
