The SLR McLaren, jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz, AMG, and McLaren Group, stands out from other supercars of its era in offering a level of luxury, comfort, and everyday usability not typically seen in its competitors. Making it even more intriguing are developments that helped spur its creation and added to its aura.

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren had a Formula One alliance since 1995, so the idea of their working relationship leading to a limited-production supercar was highly anticipated. As if on cue, McLaren-Mercedes driver Mika Häkkinen secured the 1998 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship and McLaren-Mercedes the World Constructors’ Championship mere months ahead of the Vision SLR concept debuting in January 1999 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, giving a preview of the forthcoming jointly developed production supercar. That same month, Mercedes-Benz acquired a controlling interest in AMG and formed Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Meanwhile, Häkkinen, still driving for Mercedes-McLaren, would once again win the World Drivers’ Championship later that year in 1999, adding even more luster to the automakers’ winning alliance. Behind the scenes, Mercedes-Benz would further solidify its relationship with McLaren by acquiring a 40-percent stake in the British specialist in 2000.

The series-production Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren emerged out of these developments in November 2003, drawing praise and prestige for its remarkable engineering and design, which featured an impossibly long hood and dihedral doors that recalled its 300 SL “Gullwing” namesake. To the surprise of some enthusiasts, Mercedes-Benz and McLaren did not simply pursue all-out performance, as had been the norm for supercars of this era, but rather created a car that could serve as a luxurious grand tourer and daily driver while also being capable of 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and a 206-mph top speed. AMG developed the 626-horsepower supercharged V-8 and five-speed Speedshift automatic transmission, which were positioned as far back in the carbon-reinforced-plastic monocoque chassis as possible for near-perfect weight distribution, creating the car’s jaunty proportions. Production lasted until 2010, encompassing both coupes roadsters and several special editions.

This example is one of 1,412 coupes produced, according to Mercedes-AMG, and was delivered new to the Fred Martin Mercedes-Benz dealership in Youngstown, Ohio. The car came finished from the factory in Crystal Laurite Silver over semi-aniline Black “Sliver Arrow” Leather, a $9,900 option. Other factory options included red contrast stitching and red brake calipers.

The car is understood to have been owned in Southern California from new and has been driven sparingly throughout its life, showing fewer than 4,500 miles at cataloguing time. In 2021, W.I. Simonson Mercedes-Benz in Santa Monica, California, performed an engine-out service, replacing both batteries, all spark plugs, wires, and ignition coils, valve cover gaskets, drive belts and tensioner, lower A/C refrigerant hose, fuel cooler, fuel filters, all fluids, oxygen sensors, and all underbody bolts. In November 2025, the same dealership replaced the batteries again, performed an oil and filter change, installed new tires, and performed a four-wheel alignment.

Offered with its window sticker, copies of service invoices, and factory books, this remarkable Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren presents a rare opportunity for the motorsport and marque enthusiast to own a coveted piece of supercar history from a storied Formula One partnership, as capable of setting scorching lap times as it is cruising comfortably across the country.