The video we bring you today is, deep down, a petrolhead's dream. How many of us wouldn't like to have one or more supersports in our garage? In this case, this petrolhead's passion was focused Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren , which led him to acquire not one, but several copies of the super sports car.
His name is Manny Khoshbin and he is “living” that dream. In the video we bring you, he shares with us not only your collection of five Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (introducing them one by one) like his passion for the German supersports.
The collection comprises three SLR McLaren coupés and two convertibles, one of which, the white one, is, according to Manny, a unique example in the United States. Throughout the video, Manny also tells us how he ended up buying two of the SLR McLarens when he went to lift his McLaren P1 for review (unfortunately we only get bills when we go to the garage).
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Made known in the form of a prototype in 1999 (yes, it was 20 years ago!) the production version only arrived in 2003. Compared to its two main competitors (launched at the same time), Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT, the model of the star brand stood out for having the engine in the front center position instead of the rear center.
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An option that determined the use of a long bonnet that would become one of its brand images. Also regarding its design, the side exhaust outlets, the “gills” in the body profile for hot air exhaust from the engine and, of course, the opening doors in seagull wing and the engine inlet air intake on the… star of the bonnet!
Under the bonnet there was no lack of muscle. Underneath it, and in a fairly recessed position, resided a 5.5 l V8 by AMG, powered by a volumetric compressor, capable of developing 626 hp. During his career he would know several versions and evolutions, culminating in the SLR Stirling Moss, a speedster inspired by the 300 SLR with a high power up to 650 hp.
Despite all these features, the SLR McLaren was not what can be considered a bestseller — of the 3500 units that Mercedes-Benz had predicted it sold, apparently 2157.
But that does not deter Manny Khoshbin from continuing to collect them, taking advantage of what he himself calls “devaluation”.