Mercedes-Benz
SL 65 AMG Black Series (R230)

Why it matters

The SL 65 AMG Black Series was a fixed-roof, carbon-bodied two-seat coupé derived from the R 230 SL, with the most powerful engine AMG had put in a road car up to that point. The factory archive records 350 units, and Bonhams calls it the third Black Series after the SLK 55 of 2006.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

• Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series (R230) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
• Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series (R230) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Charles from Port Chester, New York · CC BY 2.0

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The archive lists the car under design name R 230 E 60 LA, type 230.479, produced from September 2008 to August 2009 with a 5980 cc twin-turbo V12 (M 275 E 60, 493 kW / 670 hp, 1000 Nm). RM Sotheby's says it was unveiled at Monterey in 2008 and built with HWA Engineering, and describes testing of nearly 10,000 miles on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Auction lots put the car at 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 199 mph; the archive gives 3.8 s to 100 km/h and 250 km/h limited.

RM reports that about half of the 350 cars were allocated to the United States, and Bonhams notes that only 12 were delivered in the UK. Bonhams also states that weight was trimmed by 250 kg compared with the standard SL 65.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The fixed carbon-fibre roof with a retractable rear spoiler replaces the folding hardtop of the normal SL, and RM Sotheby's says only the doors and mirrors are shared with the production SL 65; the body is wider by 4.5 in at the front and 4.1 in at the rear. The archive lists staggered AMG wheels, 9.5 J x 19 with 265/35 R19 tyres at the front and 11.5 J x 20 with 325/30 R20 at the rear, behind 390 mm and 360 mm composite brake discs. RM notes that only six paint colours were offered. Chassis numbers quoted in the lots start WDB2304 (European cars) or WDBSK79F (US car).

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   SL 65 AMG Black Series, 2008 - 2009 (Classic M@RS) Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Classic M@RS, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive)

   • Units produced : 350
   • Engine designation / type : M 275 E 60 / 275.983 (Technical data)
   • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 12 / 60° V (Technical data)
   • Displacement : 5980 cc (Technical data)
   • Bore : 82.6 mm (Technical data)
   • Stroke : 93.0 mm (Technical data)
   • Compression ratio : 9.0 (Technical data)
   • Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft per cylinder bank (variably adjustable) (Technical data)
   • Injection pump / injection system (type) : microprocessor-controlled injection system with hot-film air-mass measurement (Technical data)
   • Rated power : 493 kW / 670 DIN/hp at 5400 rpm (Technical data)
   • Nominal torque : 1000 Nm at 2200 - 4200 rpm (electronically limited) (Technical data)
   • Gearbox type designation : AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 5-speed automatic transmission (Technical data)
   • Forward gears (total) : 5 (Technical data)
   • Gear ratio : I. 3.59; II. 2.19; III.1.41; IV. 1.0; V. 0.83; R. 3.16 (Technical data)
   • Axle drive ratio : 2.65 (Technical data)
   • Drive : rear wheel drive (Technical data)
   • Front axle : 4-link front suspension (Technical data)
   • Rear axle : multi-link independent suspension (Technical data)
   • Brakes front : composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated (Technical data)
   • Steering (type) : rack-and-pinion (Technical data)
   • Wheelbase : 2560 mm (Technical data)
   • Vehicle length : 4589 mm (Technical data)
   • Vehicle width : 1960 mm (Technical data)
   • Vehicle height : 1286 mm (Technical data)
   • Front track gauge : 1666 mm (Technical data)
   • Rear track gauge : 1639 mm (Technical data)
   • Unladen weight (according to the respectively valid measurement or calculation methods) : 1870 kg (Technical data)
   • Maximum speed : 250 km/h (electronically limited) (Technical data)
   • Acceleration 0-100 kpm : 3.8 s (Technical data)
   • Fuel tank capacity/of which reserve : 80 / 14 l (Technical data)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   RM Sotheby's London 2023 – 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series Level B

   • 350 SL 65 AMG Black Series produced worldwide

   Accessed 2026-11-12