2008 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

Finished in Obsidian Black Metallic, this Mercedes-Benz SL63 comes fitted with the all-important AMG Performance Pack that cost £8,230 back in the day and added bigger brakes to the equation plus a more aggressive locking rear differential, uprated suspension, an AMG race steering wheel, and different cast aluminium wheels. 

The Technicians at the AMG factory also gave clients the option of the now rare and hugely expensive P30 AMG Performance Package, that gave drivers an increased top speed of 186 MPH, larger Diamond Turned 19" alloy wheels and a factory limited slip differential, all of which would cost an extra £8500 over the original asking price and with this massive cost this option was rarely opted for, which now means for 2023 a P30 Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG is indeed a rather rare vehicle to acquire.

Now 15 years old and yet still showing just 25,000 miles on the odometer, ‘G13 PEY’ has had just one owner since 2008 after being pre-registered by the dealer for the first 116 miles of its life.

With a peerless and fully documented service history from its retired owner, this is a collector-quality example that needs nothing other than a tankful of fuel and a keen driver behind the wheel.

Black is a brave choice for a second hand car because it ruthlessly highlights even the most minor imperfection. And yet, like here, when it works it works very well indeed.

Squatting down and peering along the car’s flanks shows a complete absence of the sort of minor dents, dinks and ripples that betray a careless owner; the owner has clearly gone to a lot of trouble to avoid collecting any car-park damage.

The panel fit is still excellent too, with laser-etched shutlines and perfect panel alignment – and as for the Obsidian Black Metallic paint, well, just look at it; it’s magnificent, isn’t it? 

Badges, lamp lenses, window glass, and chrome are all excellent. But then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you?

As for the 19-inch alloy wheels, wheels whose tyres are so low-profile that kerbing them is all but inevitable, we can’t see a single scrape or scuff, which is remarkable. The tyres, they’re Goodyear Eagle F1 on the front and Pirelli P-Zero on the rear.

The clever folding roof, with its glass Vario roof - a £1,440 option when the car was new - furls and unfurls at the press of a button, taking just 16 seconds to tuck itself away when it’s not required while also giving coupé-like levels of weatherproofing when it is. It’s a brilliant design that genuinely gives the best of both worlds.

As for flaws, the wheel nuts/bolts are rusty, which kinda spoils the look a little but that that is all we can find to moan about speaks volumes, eh?

The list of optional extras fitted to the SL when it was new is long. In addition to the AMG Performance Package we’ve mentioned it’s got:

• AMG Driver's Package comprising leather-trimmed steering wheel with aluminium paddle shift and electric tilt: £2,230, 
• Panoramic Glass Vario Roof: £1,440
• Comfort seats: £625,  
• Parktronic: £605, 
• Harman Kardon surround sound system: £575, 
• Air-Scarf – neck-level heating: £420, 
• Remote boot closing: £410, 
• Intelligent light system: £340, 
• Telephone pre-wiring with hands-free: £320, 
• Tyre pressure monitoring: £250, 
• Universal Consumer Interface (UCI): £140, 
• Velour floor Mats with AMG lettering: £70.

As for the condition, it is almost like new. There is very gentle creasing to the leather massage seats but that’s about it.

It’s also a lovely place to be, the glass Vario roof flooding the cabin with light when the metal roof is up despite the presence of all that black leather. 

And, when the roof is down, the heated seats, fold-down wind deflector, and Air Scarf headrests will keep you toasty no matter what the weather is doing, meaning you can use the SL as a convertible in everything other than rain.

We are told that everything works as it should but then you wouldn’t expect anything else given its service history, would you? (Of which, more anon.)

The 6.3-litre V8 engine fires into life with a roar, settling into a steady idle – until your prod the throttle and it bares its teeth. The exhaust note is nothing short of magnificent and if it doesn’t raise the hairs on the back of your neck you’d better get someone in to check for a pulse.

The seller doubts it’s ever been red-lined much less taken on the track or been launched with a full-throttle. 

Which is, in a way, a shame because the Performance Pack transforms the SL63 AMG into an even harder-edged and more competent car than the original.

The engine bay is beautifully presented and in need of nothing, ditto the underside.

The AMG’s service history summary print-out reads as follows:

• 03.11.2023 and 25,051 miles – service by Oakleigh Garage Chesham
• 18.10.2021 and 23,910 miles – service by TM Motors Ltd
• 27.07.2020 and 22,733 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 02.08.2019 and 21,779 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 12.12.2018 and 20,281 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 27.11.2017 and 18,663 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 16.11.2016 and 15,557 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 01.10.2015 and 12,620 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 16.01.2015 and 11,666 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 17.12.2013 and 8,920 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Weybridge
• 09.01.2013 and 7,526 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz London
• 22.12.2011 and 6,435 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz London
• 21.12.2010 and 5,649 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz London
• 23.12.2009 and 3,378 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz London

Which is flawless, isn’t it? As you’d expect, the SL’s MoT certificate, which is valid until September 2024, was issued with no advisories, something it’s made something of a habit of over the years.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, of course, and the SL comes with its full book pack.

With a six-figure price tag when it was new, our guide price of somewhere between £32,000 and £52,000 for this low-mileage, beautifully maintained example seems like a bit of a bargain to us.

Because it is hard to think of a more capable and versatile car; you could take your dear old mum out for lunch in it before collecting your partner and whisking them down to the South of France, taking in the odd track day along the way.

And it would, no doubt, do it all with complete reliability.

High-quality, low-mileage, low-owner examples like this are always in demand too, which means it should look after you when the time comes to pass it on. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  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’.