Chassis No. WDDAJ76F75M000489

As one of Formula One's most enduring technical partnerships, the relationship between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz between 1995 and 2014 was also among the most successful. The two organizations united for a remarkable four world championships, 78 Grand Prix wins, and 231 podiums. In recognition of this successful relationship, 1998 saw a collaboration between both parties to develop a new Mercedes-Benz supercar; the program's primary objectives being to acknowledge their shared competition success, while simultaneously cultivating a more vibrant and sporting image for the Stuttgart marque.

Although Mercedes-Benz had exhibited its own Vision SLR concept car at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, it was not until McLaren tasked legendary Formula One and McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray with overseeing the project that development of the definitive SLR truly gathered momentum. Featuring a conventional front-engined, rear-wheel drive layout, the car was constructed around an ultra-stiff carbon fiber monocoque into which a 617 horsepower version of Mercedes' existing supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine was then inserted; this prodigious power being transmitted to the road via an AMG Speedshift R five-speed automatic transmission.

With a top speed of 207 mph and a 0-60 mph time of around 3.5 seconds, not to mention a curb weight approaching 3,843 lbs, any associated braking system would need to be appropriately robust. Consequently, the SLR featured eight-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers, operating on carbon-ceramic discs in conjunction with the highly advanced, ABS-compliant Sensotronic brake-by-wire system.

However, it was arguably in its styling that the SLR reflected its designer's trend-setting credentials best; its steering wheel located, incredibly, almost nine feet from its nose to optimise weight distribution. Furthermore, exquisitely crafted butterfly doors, and truncated side-exhausts hinted at the car's spiritual inspiration, the immortal 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut" coupe of 1955, while the curved "raised nose" stanchions of the radiator intake paid homage to the car's illustrious Formula One heritage.

Purchased new in 2005 by the Fleischman Collection from Mercedes-Benz dealers W.I. Simonsen of Santa Monica, California, it was configured in the quintessential Mercedes-Benz livery of Crystal Laurite Silver with Silver Arrow 300SL Red leather interior; the latter being a $9,900 factory option. As a one owner car it has an unbroken chain of fastidious maintenance exclusively by Mercedes-Benz dealers. The car was most recently serviced at Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills in September 2020 at a cost of $11,230 and has covered fewer than 100 miles since that time. At the time of cataloging the car's recorded mileage remained at just under 6,000 miles, of which only a little over 1,000 have been covered in the last decade.

Offering spectacular performance and jaw-dropping looks, yet with levels of refinement more typically associated with its luxury siblings, the SLR remains one of the most accomplished and unique supercars ever produced. In being blessed with an iconic color combination, exhaustive service history, and well known provenance, this magnificent one owner supercar surely must be one of the finest Mercedes-Benz SLR McLarens available.