One of one right hand drive Brabus SLK65 models ever produced. Originally ordered by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, this vehicle is emerging from 22 years of ownership.
A fantastic opportunity to require an extremely collectable, powerful and inimitable V8 roadster that is part of a series of only 5 cars ever produced by Mercedes-Benz.
For a slice of how this vehicle makes you feel and how it performs, head to YouTube to see Clarkson behind the wheel.
In the words of the current owner, this vehicle is ”It eats Ferrari F355’s and is docile around town exactly like a regular SLK R170 230, but should you want or will wheel spin at 120mph, drop it into 3rd gear (automatic) and floor the throttle.”
The owner has gone to great lengths to maintain this vehicle, recognising that its unique qualities are going to be extremely revered in the future. Now 24 years old, this modern classic nineties roadster offers pure petrolheadonism with the DNA of AMG and Brabus offering a truly monstrous machine. This is a car that makes modern AMGs look calm.
There is only one way to find out... try it for yourself.
The car has effectively had two owners. The Cruises and the current owner, but log book will show more - Brabus twice (pre-post), the Cruises and the current owner who transferred it to his partner in 2016.
When the Cruises owned the car it was registered in a company name. They had it when they were making the movie “Eyes Wide Shut” in the UK.
Much of the history known was told by Martin Stillman of the Stillman Mercedes garages and the owner of Brabus UK.
The Cruises had the car originally as an SLK 6.5 look-alike and Martin persuaded them to convert it to a full SLK 6.5 when it had 5,000 miles on the clock.
Soon afterwards Clarkson made the top gear video “At Full Throttle” and described the car as “perfect” and much more.
The current owner purchased the car in October 2000 (originally registered 1998) with 6,000 miles on the clock.
Brabus don’t publicise much or any information about production numbers.
Martin Stillman revealed that Brabus made 3 x LHD and 2 x RHD and that the other RHD one was written off in Hong Kong before this car left the custody of the Cruises.
Information suggests that Brabus only manufactured 13 crankshafts (one they kept for display) and the other used in the 5 SLK engines and a couple of 124’s and maybe an S Class.
There is also suggestion that one of the LHD in Silver ones was shipped to Bill Gates (Microsoft) and which later returned to Europe in 2014.
Brabus have a Classics Division and I have contact details for their head of sales and their technical archive guy.
Brabus used a basic Mercedes (M119 - from memory) engine fitted custom crank and pistons, Mercedes gearbox and differential and made custom prop and drive shafts. So never breaks down and can be maintained by decent Mercedes guys.
In the past six months, this Brabus V8 SLK65 has benefitted from over 110 hours of maintenance by a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Shrewsbury - the same dealership that has maintained the vehicle for 22 years.
Works carried out include: Full service, new brake discs and pads, new roof lining, hydraulic damper, interior scuff marks, new spare wheels and tyres, all new badging and lettering.
The vehicle has a full MOT until 1st June 2023 with absolutely no advisories.
If there's a modern classic to own, its this particular vehicle.