Acolytes of AMG’s high-performance Mercedes-Benz offerings know that occasionally, something even more extreme comes out of Affalterbach: A Black Series model. Not every AMG-enhanced Mercedes-Benz gets a Black Series counterpart; to date, the honor has only been bestowed upon select two-door models, which get radically revised styling, a weight-reduction regimen, and a slew of performance enhancements targeting both output and handling. Low production numbers make them eagerly sought-after, both at their debuts and in the years that follow.

Unveiled in 2008, the SL 65 AMG Black Series—produced in partnership with HWA Engineering—garnered acclaim not only for its brutish styling and hair-raising performance, but also as the most powerful roadgoing car AMG had ever built up to that point. An enhanced version of the standard SL 65’s 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 engine featured larger turbos, an expanded intercooler, and a remapped ECU, increasing output to an astounding 661 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Bodywork was completely revamped with a new front bumper, wider fenders, and a fixed roof in place of the standard SL’s folding top, all in carbon fiber. Only the doors carried over from the standard SL.

The chassis was completely reengineered for peak performance on racetracks, with the SL 65 AMG Black Series having been tested for nearly 10,000 miles on the punishing Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Capable of 0–60 in 3.8 seconds, top speed was an electronically limited 199 mph. Only 350 examples are understood to have been produced, with about half reportedly allocated to the United States.

Completed in September 2008 and delivered new via Mercedes-Benz Manhattan of New York, this SL 65 AMG Black Series is one of those 175 US-market cars. Finished in Iridium Silver over a Black/Anthracite Exclusive leather interior, it has remained in the New York City area from new, through a short chain of just two owners. Most recently, in March 2025, the car benefited from a service (including oil and filter change) carried out by Mercedes-Benz of Goldens Bridge, New York. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer displayed just 5,655 miles, consistent with a life of very modest use and its overall excellent condition.

AMG Black Series offerings really are a cut above the rest, offering power and performance potential at a level typically reserved for extreme tuning shops in an impeccably executed OEM package. With low mileage and a short chain of only two owners from new, this 2009 SL 65 AMG Black Series is your opportunity to experience the sound and the fury firsthand.