Guide price: £35000 - £40000.  
- First generation R230 transformed by AMG. 47,880 miles
- 6-litre, twin-turbocharged, V12 producing 604bhp and 740lbs/ft
- In classic Silver with 19inch dual-spoke AMG alloys. 'Panoramic' glass roof
- Excellent Service history (7 recorded services) mostly with the main dealer
Introduced in 2002, after some five years in development, the R230 Series SL Roadster was an engineering 'tour de force'. Painstakingly modelled on a state-of-the-art supercomputer which enabled the designers to analyse every curve and line, it looked utterly sensational with an air of barely contained aggression that gave it huge road presence. Packed full of sophisticated electronic driver aids which made it immensely safe but also fun to drive, it was an instant hit with press and public alike and is widely considered to be the best-looking Mercedes for many years. The power-operated aluminium folding roof was particularly admired and would disappear into the top of the boot at the press of a button in just 16 seconds, yet still leave enough room underneath for 206 litres of luggage space.AMG, which is now the official performance division of Mercedes-Benz, has a long history of producing high-performance derivatives of Mercedes' standard production vehicles, and these improved versions enjoy an enthusiastic following worldwide. When the stunning SL55AMG was introduced in 2003 with its 5.4-litre V8 producing 476 BHP and a tree stump pulling 520lbs/ feet of torque it was naturally assumed it would remain top of the range, however, AMG had a further party-trick. A year later the SL 65 AMG arrived and was the new 'King of the Castle'. It retained the stylish looks and civilised manners of the rest of the range but was powered by a V12 leviathan capable of crushing the competition at a push of the accelerator. The twin-turbo, 6.0-litre engine delivers a remarkable 604hp which is tamed through an intricate network of safety features and keep-you-alive electronics. At 740 lbs ft, the torque output is sufficient to keep you pinned in the immaculately stitched leather seats, in any gear at any time, whilst the five-speed automatic transmission with manual capability provides a good level of control. New 19" dual-spoke AMG-signature alloys camouflage the eight-piston caliper performance brakes and the suspension has been subtly tweaked to deal with the general increase in numbers. Performance is documented at 0-60mph in 3.6 secs and 0-100 mph in 7.5 seconds. Hmm!It is a beautifully packaged amalgam of huge power, sumptuous comfort and window-rattling noise.This lovely SL65AMG was built in 2005 and is finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic with Stone Grey leather complemented by Black Ash trim. It's fitted with the very desirable 'Panoramic Electric Glass Roof System', a very expensive option at the time offering the advantages of a glass sunroof (with a modesty blind) when the convertible top is up.The current mileage is 48,178 and the service history is excellent with documented invoices, mostly with main dealers. There are 7 recorded services with the first at 8,295 miles and the most recent carried out in September 2017 at 47,229 by Mercedes-Benz Worcester. The car is accompanied by the usual Mercedes-Benz leather wallet and handbooks but there is no service book as it is digitally recorded.The R230 is one of the best-looking cars from the period and the larger engined AMG cars are becoming collectable modern classics.