Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series Creations Are Crazy

Mercedes-AMG One may be the most technically advanced road car ever to come out of Stuttgart, but there’s an argument to be made that the SL65 AMG Black Series delivers more visual drama in a far less complicated package. Before hybrid powertrains and carbon monocoques took center stage, this was AMG at its most unfiltered. Now, a remarkably low-mileage example is up for auction, and it’s still every bit as intimidating as it was when it first launched.
 

Only 350 examples of the SL65 Black were ever built, and just 175 of these made it to the American market. It’s powered by an almighty 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 pumping out 661 hp and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque. The car could have been made even more epic if it was offered with a manual, but alas, it was only sold with a five-speed automatic transmission.
 
Wider, Lower, Meaner
There is absolutely no mistaking the SL65 Black Series from a regular SL of this era. Mercedes-AMG’s designers have widened the car’s front track by 4.5 inches and the rear track by 4.1 inches, adding flared arches that look incredible. It also beefed up the front and rear fascias of the SL, making it look much more aggressive, and bolted on a set of distinctive 20- and 21-inch wheels.
 
According to the Bring a Trailer listing, this example recently received a three-stage paint correction to prep it for sale, and the result looks spotless. It’s covered just 13,000 miles (around 20,900 kilometers) and comes with a clean Carfax report and a clean New Jersey title. That’s about as tidy as it gets for a car like this.
 

Found inside the cabin of the ultimate SL are several carbon fiber accents, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and black leather seats with contrasting white stitching. The seller recently spent $3,045 to get the carbon fiber ashtray refurbished and clear coated, and $1,880 to have a new ‘G’ from AMG cut from aluminum to sit on the ashtray. The seller also paid $2,213 to have the shift knob refurbished with a new logo reading ‘USA One of 175.’
 
This SL65 Black Series may be nearly two decades old, but it hasn’t lost its ability to turn heads or make a statement. It’s fast, loud, and still rare enough to make even seasoned car spotters do a double take. You can check out the full listing and toss your bid into the ring over at Bring a Trailer here. Good luck.