The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is among the most admired modern-day supercars. Beginning development in 2006, Mercedes-AMG sought to deliver a contemporary, albeit more sinister, spiritual successor to the marque’s iconic midcentury grand tourer, the 300 SL “Gullwing” coupe. Ecstatic press, design awards, and most importantly, orders, poured into Affalterbach at a prodigious rate following the unveiling of the SLS AMG at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Without exception, it has proven to be an exceptionally desirable modern supercar since day one.

From the outset, the SLS was destined to be the ultimate grand tourer. Its AMG-developed 6.2-liter V-8 front-mid engine produced a tumultuous 563 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 480 pound-feet of torque at 4,750 rpm, propelling the car from 0–60 mph in 3.7 seconds toward a top speed of 197 mph. At the time of release, its M159 engine was the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine in production. Utilizing a Getrag-developed double-clutch, seven-speed paddle-shifted transmission, the car was able to shift gears in less than 100 milliseconds. The remarkable performance of the transmission was optioned for four different settings with comfort, sport, sport plus, and manual driving modes. To aid its handling, the transmission was placed in the rear of the car as a transaxle for better weight distribution. Furthermore, A speed-activated airbrake deployed from the rear hatch to greatly increase downforce, thereby aiding cornering and deacceleration.

This SLS AMG example, offered from The Cayman Island Motor Museum Collection, is a United States-market chassis completed in June 2011 and finished in the alluring color combination of Sapphire Red Metallic over an Exclusive beige/black leather interior. Additional factory specifications include a full slate of desirable options including red brake calipers, forged alloy wheels, high-gloss carbon fiber trim, the Bang & Olufsen premium sounds system, memory package, and AMG performance steering wheel with Alcantara grips.

Since acquisition, the car has traveled fewer than 16,400 miles at the time of cataloguing. As the first keystone in Mercedes-AMG’s modern resurgence, this nicely-specified SLS AMG would be a superior acquisition for even the most discerning of collectors.