The year was 1997. Fresh out of medical school, I found myself with two weeks of European freedom before the real work began. A vivid memory from that trip is standing in the Mercedes-Benz museum parking lot in Stuttgart, eyes glued to a camouflaged 1998 E50 AMG prototype lurking behind a security fence. It looked menacing, squatting low on its 17-inch alloy wheels. It felt a world away from my rental Opel Astra, almost unimaginable to unleash a 350 HP AMG-tuned V8 on the Autobahn in the latest iteration of the legendary Hammer.
Fast forward twelve years, and the spoils of the relentless German horsepower race are scattered across online marketplaces. Six-year-old E55 AMGs, boasting 500 hp supercharged V8s, can be found for under $30,000. Even a “standard” Mercedes E550 would outpace the AMGs of my younger days. I was living my own horsepower dream, daily driving a 604 hp CL65 AMG coupe, its colossal twin-turbo V12 churning out twice the torque of those past V8s. I believed nothing, not even Mercedes’ own V8-powered SLR, could dethrone this luxurious beast as Autobahn king. Or so I thought…
As phenomenal a grand tourer as the CL65 was, it remained a 2.5-ton behemoth with relatively narrow tires and a standard differential. The smaller SL65 roadster wasn’t significantly lighter. In my automotive daydreams, I often envisioned a lightweight Mercedes, equipped with superior chassis components, allowing that biturbo V12 to truly shine. Apparently, the brilliant minds at Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach were on the same wavelength. Introducing the Mercedes Benz Sl65 Amg Black Series.
The formula, as widely reported, is elegantly brutal: start with a somewhat reasonable, albeit hefty, SL65 AMG roadster. Then, discard almost all of the bodywork (keeping the doors) and replace it with aggressively flared, DTM-inspired carbon fiber panels, widening the track by a full four inches. Add a fixed carbon fiber roof for enhanced rigidity and weight reduction, a menacing front fascia designed to feed massive heat exchangers, and a speed-sensitive retractable rear wing. The result? A sleek, predatory fastback coupe that looks capable of leaping over traffic in a single bound.
Indeed, when this machine was unloaded from its transporter, delivered directly from a Midwest dealership with a mere 1.7 miles on the odometer, those of us present were simply speechless. We stared. And stared some more. And shook our heads in disbelief. It truly takes time to fully absorb the sheer presence of this car. The more you examine the fastback roofline, the seamless integration of the front fenders into the air extractors, the carbon fiber exhaust surrounds… photographs simply don’t do it justice. Opening the hood or trunk reveals the raw, beautiful carbon fiber undersides of these panels. The trunk houses a meticulously stitched leather box, matching the seat upholstery, adorned with the engine builder’s plaque. Inside, a bespoke car cover and a welcome letter to the exclusive AMG owners club await.
Beneath the carbon skin, the Black Series recipe continues: Out goes the heavy, power-sapping Active Body Control suspension, replaced by a track-focused set of double-adjustable KW coil-over shocks, H&R sway bars, and substantial Dunlop tires – 19-inch front and 20-inch rear, with Z06-rivaling 325mm width at the back. A 40% locking differential is essential, as the hand-built V12 engine is now fortified with larger air intakes, bigger turbos, and a free-flowing exhaust system featuring genuine Eisenmann race mufflers. The culmination of these enhancements is a staggering 661 HP and a monstrous 738 lb-ft of torque, propelling a car that is 500 pounds lighter than the 4,600 lb SL65 convertible.
To validate AMG’s horsepower claims, I diligently adhered to the break-in procedures outlined on the windshield decal. At 1000 miles, I entrusted the experts at Hennessey Performance in Sealy, Texas, with a precautionary oil change. We then rolled the car directly from the lift to their Dynojet dynamometer. After confirming the correct oil level (via the virtual dipstick) and accessing the hidden menu to activate “dyno mode,” disabling ABS/TC/ESP, the Black Series shrugged off the 96-degree, 90% humidity Houston heat. On its first run, it registered 580 HP at the wheels and an astonishing 700 lb-ft of torque, SAE corrected. Accounting for a typical 20% drivetrain loss, the factory-quoted flywheel figures appear conservative. I had never witnessed a stock, unmodified vehicle produce such formidable numbers. You’d typically need a Bugatti Veyron to achieve this level of power.
The numerous highway encounters I had to resist during the break-in period were swiftly forgotten during the first full-throttle highway acceleration. Unlike the refined, almost subdued sound of standard V12 Benzes, the Black Series roars ferociously and surges forward with relentless force at any speed. Acceleration is, predictably, mind-blowing. Floor the accelerator at 60 mph, and (assuming you avoid wheelspin) the rear spoiler deploys in your rearview mirror within a second, signaling 75 mph. Four seconds later, triple-digit speeds are reached, with acceleration showing no signs of diminishing. While unconfirmed, it feels as if the ECU unleashes even more boost in the higher gears… no other stock vehicle I’ve driven gains a second wind shifting into fourth gear at 120 mph like this car. With AMG raising the speed limiter from 155 to 199 mph, testing its top speed at the Texas Mile event in October seems almost mandatory. Stay tuned…
Regrettably, the 5-speed automatic transmission remains, but it’s been enhanced with a Black Series-specific ‘M2’ faster shift mode. In this mode, the otherwise understated white tachometer illuminates a yellow/red circumferential shift light, reminiscent of a wheel-standing ’69 Camaro drag racer.
Navigating through the steering wheel menu reveals dual lap timers, capable of sequential triggering – perfect for measuring both 0-60 mph and the new benchmark 60-130 mph times in a single run.
The ride quality is surprisingly firm, akin to a Porsche 997 GT2, but body roll is virtually nonexistent. The factory settings for the double-adjustable coilovers and alignment are the same AMG engineers used at the Nürburgring. However, for real-world driving, I might experiment with slightly reduced compression and rebound damping to improve ride comfort. As it stands, when attacking a decreasing radius corner, the big Mercedes exhibits astonishing grip. However, with this immense torque, extreme caution is needed when applying throttle on corner exit. Fortunately, a Black Series-specific ESP Sport mode permits more yaw angle than standard AMG models before intervening.
Inside, the cabin largely mirrors the standard SL, with notable exceptions: a flat-bottomed, perforated leather steering wheel, white AMG tachometer, paddle shifters, and carbon fiber trim accents. The shift knob proudly proclaims “One of 175,” highlighting its rarity, even more so than a Porsche Carrera GT in the US market. Sumptuous leather and Alcantara abound, enveloping comfortable bucket seats that, in a weight-saving measure, forgo the usual heating/ventilation functions and feature distinctive Black Series horizontal white stitching. Due to US side impact regulations, these seats replace the Euro-spec carbon fiber racing buckets, maintaining a degree of everyday usability. Jeremy Clarkson, or at least his tailbone, would undoubtedly approve.
Nevertheless, the Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series presents a fascinating dichotomy. It’s a factory-built, lightweight hot rod, engineered with track-focused cooling, power, suspension, and aerodynamic modifications. Yet, it still tips the scales at two tons, lacks carbon-ceramic brakes, and utilizes a traditional automatic transmission. One undeniable truth remains: facing a future increasingly focused on CO2 emissions, the 2009 SL65 Black Series stands as one of the rarest and most outrageous machines from the twilight of the second golden age of performance automobiles.
Special thanks to Hennessey Performance for the use of their dynamometer and TonyG Photography for the stunning images. Explore more photos of the SL65 AMG Black Series at TonyG’s website.
