2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

In the care of the seller since October 2023, ‘DG53 GXN’ is an Obsidian Black Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG that’s finished with a red leather interior, a colour scheme that is simultaneously understated and beautifully OTT as well as being much rarer than the usual silver.

It’s also been fitted with an AMG Performance Pack F1 front bumper for an even greater visual impact, and its appearance has been further improved by having had the bonnet resprayed and the alloy wheels refurbished only this month.

Freshly serviced after coming out of storage, the seller is a longtime fan of the AMG brand and currently owns four of them - plus another two Mercedes. 

As for the story of this one, he’d been on the lookout for an SL55 AMG for a while, and the ten months he’s owned this one has persuaded him to upgrade to an SL55 AMG Performance Pack.

NB: Please be warned; the winning bidder might also find this gem is something of a gateway drug…

Obsidian Black is a terrific colour for the SL55 but, like every other shade of black, it comes with the caveat that it will highlight flaws more ruthlessly than any other hue.

That’s okay though because the flipside is that it also demonstrates flawless panels with the same singlemindedness – and these are very close to being flawless.

Sure, there are the usual paint chips – although not on the freshly repainted bonnet – but the coachwork is nonetheless very good indeed and even the door edges, bumper corners, and door mirrors, the bits that betray careless owners most often, are free of scuffs and marks. 

Look at the shutlines too, and then take a moment to squat down and peer along the flanks. Free of ripples, dinks, and other marks, we can’t think of a better colour than this to growl your way around your local ‘hood.

It’s very far from all-show-and-no-go though because the refurbished and newly powdercoated 18-inch alloy wheels are not only in an immaculate condition, they’re also fitted with a matching set of Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres. 

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

We are told that the folding panoramic roof opens and closes as it should. It’s a truly brilliant design that quells any objections to owning a convertible supercar: With it up you have a fast and secure coupé, and with it down you have a fast and thrilling convertible. 

It has become something of a cliché, but it really does offer the best of both worlds. 

The light lenses, window glass, and badges are all good too, which means there really isn’t much for the new owner to do. 

In fact, the only fault the seller is aware of is the boot lid, which is sluggish. The dashboard button works as it should, the lid just doesn’t pop up with the enthusiasm he’d expect.

The red leather interior has survived the passage of two decades with the same aplomb as the coachwork. 

Touchpoints like the steering wheel, gearknob, and pedals are all good, and the leather seats are only gently creased; M-B really was at the top of its game when it built the SL55 AMG.

There’s a fold-down wind deflector for ruffle-free motoring at the sort of high speeds you’re going to become accustomed to driving at too, and flaws are pretty much restricted to a scratch on the screen of the factory headunit. 

The stamped service history booklet records the following routine maintenance:

• 19.04.2005 and 11,632 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Stoke
• 30.03.2006 and 23,033 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Stoke
• 06.02.2007 and 32,919 miles – service by McLean & Appleton
• 21.04.2008 and 41,539 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Macclesfield
• 23.04.2009 and 45,377 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Macclesfield
• 30.11.2010 and 54,815 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Warrington
• 15.08.2012 and 64,711 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Warrington including a new fuel filter and fresh brake fluid
• 22.01.2014 and 75,351 miles – service by SPR Autos, independent Mercedes specialist including cleaning out the heater box drain
• 08.08.2015 and 76,922 miles – service by Anthony Seddon Racing
• 06.05.2023 and 82,733 miles – service by Bratton Garage including all filters, new sparkplugs, and a new fuel return valve

In addition to this routine work, the following repairs took place:

• June 2013 - SPR Autos replaced the SBC pump and refilled the system with fresh brake fluid 
• November 2013 - SPR Autos overhauled the braking system with new front brake discs and pads and fitted two new batteries in addition to fixing the heated rear window 
• February 2014 – SPR Autos fitted an offside alloy suspension arm and new bottom ball joints
• March 2024 – Bratton Garage upgraded the handbrake/gearlever mechanism with an upgraded metal component 

As you can see , the usual faults like the SBC pump, plastic gear selector mechanism, and fuel return valve have been sorted.

The owner reports that it starts, idles and runs as it should, and tells us that it performs brilliantly across Dartmoor, thrilling his daughter during their regular jaunts together – and wouldn’t we all have loved to grow up with memories of sweeping across wild moors with the roof down and a supercharged V8 wailing? 

(And for those of you who are thinking that its location, colour, and deep baying soundtrack make this the automotive equivalent of the Hound of the Baskervilles, we agree.)

The SL’s MoT certificate is valid until April 2025, and it was gained, like so many before, with no advisories. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is also clear, and the history file contains the stamped service history booklet plus invoices for the servicing and repairs we mentioned. 

Time has been kind to the R230 Mercedes SL55 AMG; initially viewed with suspicion by the secondhand market, they’ve moved seamlessly up through the ranks to become genuine platinum-coated, diamond-encrusted jewels, offering performance, reliability, and enough everyday usability for them to be the coolest daily driver you can imagine.

All of which means that prices are on the march. 

While you used to be able to buy the very best examples for less than £20,000, you’ll have to pay around twice that for a very good one now.

But our guide price for this very usable example, a car that comes with a verified service and maintenance history in addition to recent recommissioning, is just £16,000 - £22,000.

We doubt you can go faster for less. At least not with the sort of reliability that’s baked into what is arguably Mercedes-Benz and AMG’s finest collaboration.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the seller in Devon. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.