Firstly, thank you to everyone who voted for my car. This is my third SLK R170 having owned them since 2012, a Silver 200 followed by a red 230 (which has also been car of the month in the past) and now this stunning 320. I’ve been very fortunate to be listed as car of the month twice this year and you will be pleased to know I won’t be entering again for some time. This is my 2001 SLK 320 which I have owned since April 2023 ….

The History and Paperwork

• Originally supplied to Mercedes-Benz Piccadilly as a display centrepiece in Mercedes-Benz’s flagship London showroom, with its bespoke Designo Hellgrün Green (Electric Green) and first registered on 15th May 2001.
• This was a year after Mercedes introduced it as part of the first-generation SLK’s major mid-cycle facelift, the SLK 320 marked the first time a naturally aspirated 3.2-litre V6 engine (the M112) was made available in the compact roadster line-up.
• A bespoke car with special-order paint and interior trim.
• Though Mercedes-Benz Piccadilly owned the car, and were the first registered keeper it was sold to a customer later that year through the Mercedes-Benz Centre on the Edgware Road.

• The car is now on the number plate A6 KGC, the original number being Y153 TGP

The Interior

• Leather Anthracite with Cinnamorra Designo Anthracite trim, again special order.
• It is in remarkably good condition for 25 years old and every bit a show car.
• Designo is Mercedes’s name for its individualisation options which allow customers to order cars from the factory specially tailored to their exact requirements, and the interior has benefitted from that bespoke touch with the Cinnamorra Anthracite trim, which gives the centre console its glossy deep black finish.
• The interior barely shows its age at all. The seats, dash, centre console, doors and carpets are all exceptionally good, and difficult to fault. The car has benefitted from ‘touching up’ where the general ware marks appear, such as the door handles and gear lever are.
• Fitted with electrically operated 8-way power-adjustable, heated leather seats.

The Exterior

• Eye-catching Electric Green is a special-order Designo colour
• Like the interior, it is in remarkably good condition and last year was the joint winner of the Beaulieu Simply Mercedes Day, where club members voted it Best in Class.
• If you like to stand out, like I do. then the Designo Electric Green paint on this car certainly does that. Not only is it eye-catching the Designo special option it’s also extremely rare. Even if you were to attend a national SLK convention, we don’t think you’ll cross paths with another quite like this. Although I’m sure someone can prove me wrong.
• Since it has been garaged most of its life it’s no wonder it still looks so good. The paint is in superb condition.
• The alloy wheels are in mint condition having been refurbished and tyre are Yokohama all round

The Mechanics

• M112 3.2-litre V6 engine, which unusually uses 12 spark plugs, 2 per cylinder.

• 5G-Tronic five-speed automatic transmission (internally designated as the 722.6) and has the usual post face-lift left (to downshift) or right (to upshift) for sequential, manual gear selection.

• Unlike the 200 and 230 of the same age, which use a supercharged 4-cylinder engine, the 320 uses a naturally aspirated engine.

Since owning the car it has been consistently well-maintained, and hasn’t sat around doing nothing. It was featured in the August edition of Classic & Sports Car.

It made it’s TV debut in 2003 on the little known Channel 4 program ‘Mad for Cars’ (It was a terrible program !!) Hosted by the rapper Tinie Tempah and F1 analyst and stunt driver Naomi Schiff.

It’s been on many Club runs, including the 2005 Alpine Adventure, NC500, various Custard Runs including The Isle of Bute, Blackpool, North Wales, and of course Simply Mercedes at Beaulieu, and the opening events at The British Motor Museum. It’s a car to be used and it certainly has done that in the time I have owned it.