At a time when the price of a standard Mercedes-Benz SL 600 was just 5% less than a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, it is unsurprising that the SL70 always was an extremely rare car; the engine upgrade alone cost roughly the equivalent of € 50,000. Nevertheless, the reward was staggering: a hand-built 7.1-liter AMG-tuned version of the exquisite M120 V-12 engine, producing a supercar-slaying 489 hp.

As with all SL 70 examples, this Azurite Blue Metallic over grey chassis began life as an SL 600 for the Japanese market and was completed in January of 1996. Records paired to the affixed AMG Japan commission plate indicates that the SL 70 conversion was begun on February 13 and completed on May 20, 1996. Additionally, accompanying documentation confirms that this rarified chassis also received the ‘E70 Power Pack’—which uses an engine management computer borrowed from the contemporaneous S72 AMG to achieve a conservatively-rated 510 horsepower.

Inside, a muted collection of grey tones and factory finishes are enriched by the host of aesthetic upgrades furnished to this chassis by AMG Japan. An extended suite of grain-matched wood veneers adorn almost every interior surface—from the gauge bezels to the steering wheel and center console--and is further complimented by an additional treatment of leather for the upper dashboard. A correct set of three-piece AMG wheels and the ‘AMG by Sebring’ sports exhaust system provide the requisite stance, and sound, to this appealing roadster.

After many years of residence in Japan, this SL 70 AMG was imported into the UK in 2012, and acquired by the consignor in 2015. Since purchase it has been driven just several hundred kilometers while part of their collection. Accompanying documentation show that the consignor has furnished this chassis with a bevy of OEM replacement parts including spark plugs, brake master cylinder, head and sump gaskets, among others. Fresh off a requisite ‘B Service’ and complete fluid flush, this SL 70 is an exceedingly rare offering.

Should you want more information on the condition of this lot and or discuss the possibility of an in-situ inspection, please contact our office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or email Britta Buchmann at bbuchmann@rmsothebys.com