Born from the collaboration of two automotive giants, the 2005 Mercedes Benz Slr McLaren stands as a testament to groundbreaking engineering and design. This grand touring coupe, a product of Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive’s partnership, delivers a potent blend of Mercedes luxury, AMG performance, and McLaren’s Formula 1 inspired technology. With a staggering 617 horsepower and a top speed exceeding 200 mph, the SLR McLaren immediately etched its place in automotive history upon its 2003 debut.
The moniker “SLR” itself pays homage to Mercedes-Benz’s glorious racing heritage, standing for Sport Leicht Rennsport (Sport Light Racing). It echoes the legendary 300SLR race cars of the 1950s, piloted by icons like Sir Stirling Moss to victories in grueling races such as the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia. This lineage is visually celebrated in the 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren’s design, featuring a dramatically long hood, a gracefully sloping roofline, and distinctive side-exit exhausts, all reminiscent of the legendary 300SLR ‘Uhlenhaut Coupe’.
While undeniably a modern Mercedes-Benz with its signature rounded headlights and prominent three-pointed star, the 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren carves its own distinct identity. Aggressive side vents and sweeping lines set it apart from the Mercedes-Benz stable, while the dramatic dihedral doors are a clear nod to McLaren’s DNA, famously featured on the iconic McLaren F1. These upward-swinging doors aren’t just for show; they offer practical benefits in tight spaces, crucial for a car of the SLR’s width, and further evoke McLaren’s racing pedigree. The Formula 1 influence is further emphasized in the nose section’s design, inspired by the nose cone of a Formula 1 car, a subtle yet powerful reminder of the Mercedes-McLaren racing partnership. Stepping inside the 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR is an event in itself, the sense of occasion amplified by the pulsing red start button atop the gearshift lever, promising an auditory explosion from the side-exit exhaust upon ignition.
Hand-assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, the 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren showcases cutting-edge materials and engineering. Its body shell and chassis are constructed from carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), ensuring both lightness and exceptional rigidity. Powering this marvel is a hand-built, all-aluminum 5,439cc supercharged V8 engine, meticulously crafted by AMG. A twin-screw Lysholm-type supercharger force-feeds the M115 engine with 16 psi of boost, resulting in its breathtaking performance. Mercedes opted for an AMG Speedshift R 5-speed transmission to manage this immense power, sending it to the rear wheels. The 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR also incorporates advanced brake-by-wire “Sensotronic” carbon ceramic disc brakes, offering superior fade resistance compared to traditional steel discs, complemented by an innovative active aerodynamics airbrake system for enhanced stopping power.
Despite its advanced construction and Formula 1-derived technology, the 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren doesn’t sacrifice luxury. Weighing in at approximately 4,000 pounds, it retains the opulent amenities expected of a Mercedes-Benz, including automatic climate control, a premium 7-speaker BOSE sound system, a multifunction steering wheel, and a lavish leather-clad interior. However, this weight does little to diminish its blistering performance. The 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR can launch from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.2 seconds and reach 100 mph in just 7.5 seconds, figures that remain impressive even by today’s supercar standards.
The specific 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren we are highlighting today, built on August 11th, 2004, was originally purchased from Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills on Christmas Eve of 2004. Presented in the sophisticated Crystal Laurite Silver over Semi-Aniline Black leather, its original window sticker price was a substantial $450,000, escalating to $455,750 with delivery and gas guzzler tax included.
This particular 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren spent its initial three months in California before being registered in Chicago in March 2005, showing a mere 70 miles on the odometer. By June 2006, it had relocated to Pennsylvania, where it has remained ever since. Having covered only around 3,200 miles in its first two years, it has accumulated a further 4,200 miles over the subsequent years, reflecting careful and limited use.
Regular maintenance throughout its life is evidenced by a clean CARFAX report and a Mercedes-Benz dealer Vehicle Master Inquiry, detailing a comprehensive service history. Presented in a condition closely resembling showroom fresh, this striking supercar is yearning to be unleashed on the open road. While Mercedes-Benz initially aimed for an annual production of 500 SLRs over seven years, actual production numbers consistently fell short. This 2005 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren originates from the 2004 production year, during which only 45 units were completed, making it exceptionally rare. These historically significant supercars are destined to remain icons of early 21st-century automotive excellence, representing a pinnacle of power, luxury, and exclusivity. This offering presents a remarkable opportunity to acquire an exclusive, highly usable, low-mileage, and iconic supercar that is undoubtedly poised to become a future classic.
