Jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz, AMG, and McLaren Automotive, the SLR McLaren sought to bring something different to the supercar arena. The three companies had been involved together in Formula One since 1995, and the idea of this working relationship leading to a limited-production supercar was greatly anticipated. The Vision Super Leicht Rennsport (Super Light Racing) concept was unveiled in 1999, just a few months after driver Mika Häkkinen had secured the first Formula One Championship for the partnership. The production version of the SLR followed for the 2004 model year, with orders beginning in early 2003.

Rather than pursue all-out performance, Mercedes-Benz and McLaren sought to create a car that could easily outperform its competition while also serving as a capable, comfortable, and luxurious high-speed grand tourer. AMG developed and assembled the model’s fire-breathing 626-horsepower supercharged V-8 engine and five-speed Speedshift automatic transmission. Sprinting from 0–60 mph took just 3.8 seconds, leading to a quarter-mile time of just over 11 seconds and a 206-mph top speed.

To rein in this prodigious speed, the SLR was equipped with Mercedes-Benz’s Sensotronic “brake by wire” system, along with carbon-ceramic disc brakes and an automatic air brake. These systems working in unison could bring the car to a screeching halt from 120 mph in less than 240 feet. To endow the SLR with exceptional handling, engineers moved the V-8 as far back as possible in the carbon-reinforced-composite monocoque chassis, giving the car near-perfect weight distribution and its characteristically long hood.

THE SLR ROADSTER

To ratchet up excitement of the SLR even further, the roadster version with a power-operated, insulated soft-top, was introduced in 2007. Ascendant McLaren-Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton helped publicize the new model, even specifying his own example. In November 2008, just a few months after customer deliveries began, Hamilton claimed the first of his seven Drivers’ Championship titles. Just 670 examples of the SLR McLaren Roadster were produced between August 2007 and May 2009.

This nicely specified, US-market example was delivered new to the company’s headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey, and then allocated to Mercedes-Benz of Augusta, Georgia on 29 October 2007.

It is presented in the exquisite and stunning color combination of Crystal Laurite Silver Metallic (977U) over two-tone Semi-Aniline black and Exclusive Red “Silver Arrow” leather upholstery, replete with custom black contrast stitching, black carbon-fiber trim, embroidered headrests, and a matching dark red fabric soft-top. Additional factory specifications include a set of red-painted brake calipers and extra-large seats, pushing this exemplary order to an original manufacturer suggested retail price of $514,000.

The car was first registered in Pennsylvania as a corporate vehicle in July 2009. Other records indicate that this SLR McLaren was exhaustively maintained by Mercedes-Benz of Naples, Florida between 2010 and July 2014, under previous ownership. Following this period, the consignor purchased it with the odometer indicating approximately 18,600 miles and had it exported to Kuwait where it joined a collection.

In the past 200 miles of careful use with the consignor, this SLR has received several fluid flushes and oil changes, as well as a new battery, hood struts, a starter battery, and telescoping headlamp washers. All maintenance concerns have been handled exclusively by the official dealer Al-Bisher & Al-Kazemi Mercedes-Benz of Kuwait.

Showing a history of regular servicing by official marque dealers since new, this SLR Roadster is an exemplar of the famous—and only—roadgoing model developed jointly by the three titans of motorsport, Mercedes-Benz, AMG, and McLaren. Finished in a striking color scheme and benefitting from eight years of care within the consignor’s climate-controlled and fastidiously maintained collection, this SLR would be a significant acquisition for Mercedes-AMG and McLaren Formula One devotees or any collector of 21st-century halo cars.