The opening of a shiny new AMG Performance division by Mercedes-Benz meant they needed a showpiece and that became their first ‘Black Series’. The Mercedes SLK 55 AMG ‘Black Series’.

This was Raw, not quite the SLK 55 Track Sport raw, that is the extreme version and rarer, no this was more leather and carbon luxury than, fuel tanks in the boot and harnesses of the TS model…

Deliveries of the SLK 55 Black started in July 2007, At a cost price of €107,000 euro, this was by no means a standard bit of kit. This Black Series edition weighed in with a saving of 45kg, helped by deleting the convertible roof. This was replaced with a full carbon fixed lightweight roof made by a Ski Specialist called Fischer in Austria – then the lightweight wider stance wings with unique additional air vents to cool the extra-sized brakes, to unique ultra-lightweight forged 19″ wheels, these were larger and wider than the original but saved 31kg on the overall weight. A customer option, at no extra charge, was Pirelli Sport’s super sticky tyres.

The power came from the trusted 5.5ltr V8 AMG engine but had an increase from 360 to 400 bhp via timing valves and a clever induction via a crazy manifold that made the exhaust amazing. Other weight-saving measures come from lightweight seats, brakes, etc. The wheel arches are of a wider stance and of course, lightweight.

Superb braking is ensured by the AMG high-performance brakes with large composite brake discs (360 x 32 millimetres) and six-piston fixed callipers at the front axle.

An interesting fact I found, the stunning new roof now being carbon, all of the pump and workings for the convertible roof remained in the boot of the car! It’s thought this was to be removed by the supplying dealer and not all did. Maybe they all stayed due to electrical issues. Would be nice to hear from owners who can confirm if their car still has the workings.

Note that the front fog lights are removed on the Black Series. Also, wider air vents on the front spoiler are added and air vents on the side front wings give it the ultimate race spec.

Also, an interior carbon kit included a carbon dash surround, carbon door card panels, handbrake, gear selector, and steering wheel button surrounds. You could option the full carbon exterior kit. This included the spoilers, mirrors, and boot lid.

It seems any of the original UK cars were sold to Main Dealers to be used as a kind of promotional vehicle, I guess to show why a customer should spend almost double the cost of a standard SLK55… Some dealers ‘had’ to order certain cars to promote different releases, Designo and AMG are good examples. This seems to be the case with the Black Series. These had the order code of P98.

Whilst researching this edition it seemed the basic colours of Iridium Silver Metallic and Obsidian Black Metallic are the only two colours these were made in. However, I’d put a million dollars on it that other special colours are out there hiding in superb car collections somewhere…

There was quite an impressive brochure issued for the car, as there has been for all the Black Series – have a look at it here; https://ragtop.org/mbbrochures/2007/amg/slk55-amg-black.pdf

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So of the numbers produced… now, this is a tricky one… The one Mercedes Black Series which has a question mark over it… was not overly loved by the press, more so as not that really got to drive one, but this is exceptionally rare. Initial reports suggested 100 of these were produced worldwide, Some figures also suggest as many as 400 were produced worldwide, which is unlikely. Although it seems 118 produced is an accurate figure to work with, with only a very few being RHD.

It’s long been Believed only one came to the UK and that was the black Mercedes Press car… However, suggestions now state that 11 were sold in RHD. Now, of these 11 RHD cars, 10 may have been dispersed around the RHD countries of the world… It’s thought 3 RHD cars went to Hong Kong, and one of those went to Australia, a black one with the carbon kits.

So let the search begin… It’s now confirmed that there is at least one residing in the UK, with Black paintwork and Black leather and then the Press Car which has the race fabric seats, pictured above. So, it seems two UK cars exist.

There are a few out there with the full kit on. One ‘lookalike’ UK car was optioned from new with £21k with ‘AMG Black Series’ options. One is in Black with cream leather and a Silver one with red & black leather and a full kit inc vents is on the road that looks identical. There may be many more like that out there…

More research is ongoing to find other ones.

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SO LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP, LET’S GIVE THIS CAR SOME ATTENTION!

More to come!

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©howmanymade