Representing a tribute to the iconic Mercedes 300 SLR, the modern Sport Leicht Rennsport (Sport Light Racing) is a rare sight. Only 2,157 cars were ever assembled between 2003 and 2010 by McLaren at its Technology Center in Woking despite an initial plan to build 3,000 examples. The high-performance coupe with its long hood and gullwing doors was a stunner in original form, be it the basic model or one of the special editions it received over the years.
MANSORY McLaren SLR Mercedes Limited 1 of 1 – Full Review Drive Acceleration Sound
Speaking of which, there were quite a few limited-run variants, including the McLaren Edition and the 722, not to mention the spectacular Stirling Moss speedster and the 722 GT race car. As for this sinister-looking car, it started out in life as a regular coupe first registered in 2005 before Mansory got its hands on it. The end result is worthy of a Batmobile, with a soundtrack to match.
Bathed in carbon fiber, the SLR finished in Crystal Galaxite black metallic sits on 20-inch front and 21-inch custom wheels with carbon fiber inserts. Mansory installed LEDs in the side air intakes that light up whenever you open the gullwing doors, but they’re too far to be considered puddle lights. In other words, they’re just for show.
There are more carbon fiber accents and light-emitting diodes to be found on the inside where we’re noticing probably the car’s weak point. We’re talking about the aftermarket infotainment system that has erased the classic “SLR” badge on the lid covering the standard radio. The retro look of the center console had to suffer because of the newer tech implemented, and using a touchscreen mounted so low is a recipe for distracted driving.
While the supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine delivered 617 horsepower in standard form, Mansory took it to over 700 hp. It’s still rear-wheel drive, so you can imagine it’s not the easiest car to drive around. The bump in output has likely shaved off some time from the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) and 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) sprints, which take 3.8 seconds and 10.6 seconds in the standard SLR, respectively.
The car featured here is actually for sale at a Mercedes dealer in The Netherlands. It’s listed as being in “top condition” with just 34,349 kilometers (21,343 miles) on the odometer. Price? An eye-watering €290,000 or about $326,113 at current exchange rates.
