A low-mileage 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster has appeared for sale on Bring a Trailer, giving collectors a chance to buy one of the most distinctive supercars of the 2000s. The car shows just 6,000 miles and combines Mercedes luxury with McLaren-developed carbon-fiber engineering.
Finished in Crystal Palladium Gray, this example features a red-and-black soft top over a cabin trimmed in black and 300SL Red Silver Arrow leather. The specification gives the long-nosed roadster a striking appearance without straying too far from the restrained grand-touring character that defined the SLR.
Power comes from a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 producing 617 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. That output is sent to the rear wheels through an AMG Speedshift R five-speed automatic transmission.
At the time of writing, bidding had reached $400,000 with several days remaining. The car is being offered by a dealer in California with service records, its owner’s manual, a battery tender, a clean Carfax report, and a clean New Jersey title.
Mercedes And McLaren Built It Together
The SLR was developed during the period when Mercedes-Benz and McLaren were closely connected through Formula 1. Their partnership had already delivered championship success on the track, and the road car was intended to combine McLaren’s technical expertise with Mercedes’ tradition of high-speed luxury coupes.
Production began after the car’s 2003 debut and continued through 2010, with both coupe and roadster versions offered. Each SLR was hand-built at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, using a carbon-fiber monocoque and carbon-fiber crash structures.
The result did not fit neatly into the same category as lighter, more track-focused supercars. The SLR was a fast, luxurious grand tourer with dramatic styling, immense straight-line performance, and enough refinement to cover long distances comfortably.
A Supercharged V8 With Serious Muscle
The front-mid-mounted M155 V8 is one of the defining features of the SLR. Its 5.4 liters of displacement, twin-screw supercharger, twin intercoolers, dry-sump lubrication system, and all-aluminum construction helped produce performance that was exceptional for the era.
Factory output was rated at 617 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque, with much of that torque arriving low in the rev range. That delivery gave the SLR the kind of effortless acceleration expected from a high-end Mercedes, only with the urgency of a true supercar.
The five-speed automatic was sometimes criticized when the car was new, especially by enthusiasts expecting a more exotic transmission. In practice, it suited the SLR’s grand-touring mission and handled the engine’s torque without compromising its ability to cruise.
Rare Details And Exotic Hardware
This example retains the SLR’s signature upward-opening butterfly doors, xenon headlights, side-exit exhaust outlets, and electronically controlled rear spoiler that also functions as an air brake. The unusually long hood and set-back cabin remain some of the most recognizable design elements of any modern Mercedes.
The car rides on asymmetrical 19-inch turbine-style alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires. Carbon-ceramic brake rotors with red Mercedes-Benz-branded calipers provide stopping power, while the car also uses Mercedes’ Sensotronic Brake Control system.
Inside, the cabin blends exposed carbon fiber, aluminum trim, and richly finished leather. Equipment includes power-adjustable carbon-fiber seats, a Bose sound system, a trunk-mounted six-disc CD changer, dual-zone climate control, and a starter button integrated into the shift knob.
Low Miles And Recent Attention
The odometer shows just 6,000 miles, making this a remarkably lightly used example after nearly two decades. The Carfax report shows no accidents or reported damage, and the car passed a California emissions test in August 2023.
Recent work includes replacement of the battery and hood struts in September 2023, along with a recent oil change. A wheel was repaired that same month, while the exterior received dry-ice cleaning and paint correction in July 2026.
Its combination of low mileage, unusual color specification, clean history, and documented maintenance should make it attractive to collectors. The roadster body style also adds another layer of rarity compared with the already uncommon coupe.
A Supercar From A Different Era
The SLR McLaren arrived at a time when manufacturers were still experimenting with what a modern supercar should be. Ferrari and Porsche leaned toward sharper track performance, while Mercedes and McLaren created something heavier, more luxurious, and deeply focused on speed over distance.
That identity has aged well, especially as collectors revisit cars from the early 2000s. The SLR’s blend of carbon-fiber construction, hand-built V8 power, dramatic doors, and unmistakable styling makes it difficult to confuse with anything else.
Would you take this SLR Roadster over a Ferrari 599 GTB or Porsche Carrera GT from the same era? Let us know whether you see it as an underrated grand tourer or one of the best supercars Mercedes and McLaren ever created.