2004 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Designo

The SL65 AMG is one of the more extraordinary uses of Mercedes' twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12, producing 604 bhp and a colossal torque figure in a folding-hardtop roadster. This 2004 (54-plate) car is finished in Almandine Black Metallic over a Designo black leather interior, a combination that suits the car's understated menace.

The Designo specification adds a layer of exclusivity over the standard SL65, and this example is equipped with heated and ventilated seats along with full electric seat adjustment. Mileage is just 26,000, remarkably low for a car of this age and one that bodes well for the complex hydraulics and V12 drivetrain, which tend to reward cars that have been gently used.

Early R230 SL65s are increasingly regarded as future classics, being a hand-built AMG product that was produced in small numbers and carried a list price well above £100,000 when new. With a five-speed automatic transmission handling the torque and rear-wheel drive putting it down, it remains one of the great fast grand tourers of its era.