2005 Mercedes-Benz C215 CL55 AMG

Ordered new on the 22nd of August, 2005, the original owner of this CL55 dropped a few pounds shy of £100,000 on what is arguably one of AMG’s finest models. The CL55 is powered by a 500hp, 5.4-litre supercharged V8, that engine delivers thunderous performance for Mercedes-Benz’s biggest, most opulent coupe. This is a supreme GT, that’ll cruise effortlessly sitting on its 155mph limiter through the speed enlightened country it hails from, yet will also slip through town traffic with impervious ease and comfort.

Cash first buyers of cars like this almost certainly spend time in other homes, and have access to other vehicles, which explains why, since, it’s only covered a little over 34,000 miles, yet been maintained irrespective of cost. Available now for a quarter of what it originally cost, this is an opportunity to acquire one of Mercedes-Benz AMG’s finest engines, in a genuinely useable, comfortable all-round young-timer classic, that’s still got the capacity to shock with its performance, that hinted at, somewhat subtly, by its MU55 LOS number plate, which if you translate from ‘muss los’ in German, means ‘gotta go’.

Cars like this can be the victim of multiple ownership and ever decreasing care, or, here, remain pretty much as it left the showroom thanks to careful, low ownership. That the name on the order form in 2005 is the same as that on its most recent receipt, where it had all the steering wheel buttons replaced late 2023, underlines this is a car that’s been cherished by its original owner. A such, it presents in fantastic condition throughout, leaving its next owner little to do but add some more miles onto the odometer and enjoy the wonderful sound and performance that the AMG 5.4-litre supercharged V8 makes.

There’s a weighty box file with hard-backed brochures, the hefty handbook, a Comand DVD for the navigation and a handful of receipts highlighting main dealer care. The original order form is in there, with this car optionally equipped with Distronic cruise control, telephone pre-wiring, an electric rear roller blind, TV tuner, phone cradle, a Tracker and remote boot closing – things were much simpler in the early noughties, pleasingly so, these days. There’s also the receipt for that neat number plate, too.

Our predilection for the SL here does little to dampen our desire for this grandest of grand tourers, the CL55 hailing from an era where AMG was still a little bit unhinged, with the wild performance the people at Affalterbach added mated to serene Mercedes-Benz quality and luxury. A hugely capable, rounded car, that’ll seat four, it’s still a wickedly quick car today (62mph in 4.4 seconds is fast) and finding one in the kind of condition this one is in is a rare treat. One to be bought and used, and maintained to retain its excellent condition, do that and you’ll have a useable, enjoyable, fast, engaging classic car that’ll only appreciate as it ages further.