Few partnerships in the automotive world have been more fruitful than that of Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. Mercedes-Benz had been supplying engines to McLaren in Formula One since the mid-1990s, and over the course of the following 15 years, McLaren F1 cars racked up numerous victories. Mercedes-Benz eventually acquired 40 percent of the McLaren Group, and at this time, the two companies produced their first road car together, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The SLR was introduced in November 2003, a time when the Ferrari Enzo was set to do battle with the Porsche Carrera GT.

Instead of creating an all-out, no-compromises supercar, Mercedes-Benz and McLaren pursued an entirely different route. Rather than placing the engine behind the cabin, as was the standard supercar formula, the car had a front-mid-engine layout. This not only helped to improve the SLR’s handling by giving it near-perfect weight distribution, but also gave the car a rather spacious trunk and cabin, which made it much more practical and usable than its comparable competition. Supremely engineered and built to incredible standards at McLaren’s facilities in Woking, England, it boasted a very high level of fit and finish, the kind befitting any Mercedes-Benz. To many, it was the ultimate mix of supercar and grand-touring car.

Mercedes-Benz received feedback from discerning clients requesting a car that was sportier than the SLR but just as practical. In 2007, Mercedes-Benz answered their demands with the introduction of the much improved and sportier 722 Edition. The new special edition was named in honor of Stirling Moss’s incredible win at the 1955 Mille Miglia in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, car number 722. The SLR McLaren 722 Edition was limited to just 150 units, and only about 25 of these are believed to have been brought to North America.

With more than 300 modified components, nearly every aspect of the SLR was upgraded for the 722 Edition. Power rose from 617 to 650 horsepower, the 0–60 time dropped to 3.6 seconds, ride height was lowered by 10 millimeters, new 19-inch alloy wheels were developed to fit larger carbon-ceramic brake rotors, and a new carbon fiber front splitter increased front downforce by 128 percent. Incredibly, despite the significant downforce increase, the drag coefficient of the 722 is also reduced. Alcantara and carbon fiber replaced much of the leather and aluminum trim throughout the interior, giving the car a sportier, more updated feel. Compared to its rivals, most significantly the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT, the 722 Edition represents breathtaking performance, unrivaled exclusivity, and tremendous value in a package that can be easily driven and enjoyed.

The US-market example offered here was sold new in July 2007 at Mercedes-Benz of Houston Greenway in Texas and has led a pampered life. Its Carfax report indicates continual servicing at the selling dealership and extremely low mileage accrual, with only 4,979 miles showing on the odometer at cataloguing time. This 722 Edition left the factory finished in the handsome combination of Crystal Galaxite Black Metallic over stunning Silver Arrow Pastel Yellow Leather seats with black contrast stitching and Exclusive Black and Anthracite Leather on the dash and doors. Polished carbon-fiber trim throughout the cabin hints at the abundant technological advancements beneath the surface. The car was further specified from the factory with the Sports Package and extra-large seats. It rides on correct, twin-spoke, 19-inch wheels, whose black finish perfectly complements the exterior.

As the only dedicated production car ever to emerge from the impressive partnership between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz, the SLR McLaren will forever remain one the most intriguing supercars from the 2000s, with the uprated and extremely limited 722 Edition being the most coveted of all variants. As such, this pampered, low-mileage, well-specified example represents a rare opportunity for marque enthusiasts and devotees of Formula One lore to own a significant milestone in supercar history, a remarkable piece of engineering with a notably broad driving repertoire, offering higher levels of luxury and comfort than any of its elite competitors.