One-of-three Mercedes SL55 AMG Carlsson for sale
Early-'00s SL55s look more tempting than ever - this one has almost 600hp
Nobody really needs reminding now what a great time for cars the early 2000s was. There was such variety and such choice, compared to both what had come before and also immediately after, from the resurgence of the hot hatch to a fine run of sports coupes in the middle of the noughties. The appeal 20 years later is clear, with interesting engines and cool design alongside levels of usability and safety that (mostly) remain acceptable. There are even one or two that are still cheap…
A Mercedes of the era, be it AMG badged or not, is never far from temptation. While quality may not have been what it was in the late 20th century - so it wasn’t a great time to incorporate a wealth of new technology - an abundance of big engines in cool cars for not much money makes them intriguing in 2025. A CLK500, for example, may not be the greatest coupe in the world, but offers up 300hp and pillarless swag for a few grand. An S600 may eventually bankrupt you, but what a stylish way to do it. And let’s not start on where a 6.2-litre M156 goes best.
The R230-era SL55s must still be some of the most desirable AMGs of the time. Afflaterbach-modified versions of the old R129 were much harder to come by, back when AMG was less embedded in the Mercedes machine, but by the time of the 55’s arrival in 2002 the AMG magic was much more widely available. It brought hardtop luxury, stunning good looks and a rip-snorting V8 to the (relative) masses.
They’ve been affordable for a little while, probably owing to their complexity and running costs, a £12,995 Brave Pill emerging at the end of 2022. This one, however, is no ordinary SL55, not least because it costs more than four times that. It’s a Carlsson-modified car, subjected to almost £30,000 of work back in the day for those who found a standard AMG insufficiently powerful and too visually timid.
Not many took Carlsson up on their offer, but it makes their wares super interesting these days. The thousands spent on this one were to convert it to RS580 spec, meaning upgrades to the supercharger, intake, exhaust, and software for 580bhp (588hp) and a speed limit. Additionally, it received Carlsson’s unmistakable forged wheels, a lower ride height for the air suspension, and some extra interior carbon fibre. Quite some undertaking, and executed on this car not long after new.
Since then, it’s covered little more than 20,000 miles, with loads of main dealer history to its name and what looks like superb condition. It’s easy to be a little hypnotised by the condition of those wheels, for example. What might have looked a bit bling back in the days (remember when that was a saying) is now an endearing period mod. Both Tanzanite Blue paint and Alpaca Grey leather look fantastic. So while it is an awful lot more than any equivalent 55 - they’re still available from £13k, and the latest, lowest mileage ones are £30k - it really does seem like something special. For the ultimate in early-2000s excess, what could be better than a Carlsson-tuned AMG drop-top?
Yeah, its low mileage, funny how we are told modified cars are worth no more, arguably less, until a dealer has one for sale.
Its a low mileage SL with some basic tuning done, some tarty wheels and a few bits of carbon, a normal one at that miles is a 25 to 30 grand asking price, those few bits and the Carlsson name is doing a lot of heavy lifting, is Carlsson a big name ? Have heard of them but doesnt exactly have the same cachet of some of the Mercedes Tuners.
To be honest, I dont think low mileage is a great thing on these, the engines wear the mileage well, but the rest tends to age less well, so 22k in 22 years would make me a bit nervous, low miles but its still old, all those valve bodies, hydraulic lines, suspensions struts and all the other gubbins is still 22 years old. Would rather have one thats got plenty of evidence of stuff being serviced and replaced but more miles.
Yeah, its low mileage, funny how we are told modified cars are worth no more, arguably less, until a dealer has one for sale.
Looking at the dealer's other stock, they could do with a rebrand.
t remapping claims put to the test on an engine dyno to ISO testing standards.This engine is given to clutching out the blower and pulling timing anyway, all these old forced induction port injected monsters were really knock limited and pretty marginal at their factory power outputs. I'd argue that at this point a 20 year old V8 is about the noise and theatre, if straight line heroics is your bag EV is always going to be better, or the AWD turbo hippos of the last decade or so.
Yeah, its low mileage, funny how we are told modified cars are worth no more, arguably less, until a dealer has one for sale.
Looking at the dealer's other stock, they could do with a rebrand.
Yeah that's a bit at odds with the rest of it
Those rims are the alloy wheel equivalent of Angela Rayner…
I dont like being personal about politicians really but I can always imagine her kicking off in a Yates Wine Lodge somehow, more likely a Spoons these days.
I am also from Stockport and know the archetype, where a ladies demeanour is possessing a texture reminiscent of the nether regions of Meles meles....
Yeah, its low mileage, funny how we are told modified cars are worth no more, arguably less, until a dealer has one for sale.
Its a low mileage SL with some basic tuning done, some tarty wheels and a few bits of carbon, a normal one at that miles is a 25 to 30 grand asking price, those few bits and the Carlsson name is doing a lot of heavy lifting, is Carlsson a big name ? Have heard of them but doesnt exactly have the same cachet of some of the Mercedes Tuners.
To be honest, I dont think low mileage is a great thing on these, the engines wear the mileage well, but the rest tends to age less well, so 22k in 22 years would make me a bit nervous, low miles but its still old, all those valve bodies, hydraulic lines, suspensions struts and all the other gubbins is still 22 years old. Would rather have one thats got plenty of evidence of stuff being serviced and replaced but more miles.
I would much rather have a standard car with double the mileage for half the cost!
Those rims are the alloy wheel equivalent of Angela Rayner…
I dont like being personal about politicians really but I can always imagine her kicking off in a Yates Wine Lodge somehow, more likely a Spoons these days.
I am also from Stockport and know the archetype, where a ladies demeanour is possessing a texture reminiscent of the nether regions of Meles meles....
Just my opinion, Rayner, like the wheels are tasteless and horrible to look at or be around.
BTW I couldn’t care less about making comments about politicians, they put themselves up there to metaphorically shot at, if they don’t like it they can always go and stack shelves at Tesco on minimum wage.
And of course, comments against them aren’t as painful as the decisions they foist upon us..
Have never thought to myself " this thing needs more power/torque "
A state of the art gearbox....absolutely
A suspension system that doesn't require you to sell a kidney any time something goes wrong..definitely
A bit less weight.....would be nice
An airscarf as per SLK 55....that I could use
But an extra 100 bhp???
Keep your foot down in a standard one for more than a few seconds and you've waved bye bye to SAC, a few seconds more and you'll be working with no licence for months if you get caught.
That or my FSH 60000 mile standard SL55 for a quarter of the price?
or was that Vath the other Merc tuner with the 5.8L ah yea, the Vath V58K with 565hp... nice in a compact SLK55
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1043367_vath-v...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff