Mercedes-McLaren SLR Stirling Moss

By Sam Hardy

16th January 2009

The SLR is going out with a bang. This is the SLR Stirling Moss – and it's the final model to come from Mercedes' partnership with Formula One team McLaren.

The stunning supercar made its world debut at the Detroit Motor Show and pays homage both to one of Mercedes' most successful professional drivers and a racing car that's become synonymous with him – the 300 SLR.

Like that car, there’s no roof or windscreen – just simple aero screens above the dashboard. But that's where the similarities end. The bodywork is crafted from lightweight carbon fibre and is entirely redesigned from the standard SLR, with two air scoops above the headrests, which double up as roll hoops, while a central bar splits the cabin into two distinct cockpits.

The chassis is enclosed by a flat undertray and large rear diffuser – both for maximum downforce at the rear axle – while a self-raising airbrake pops up under heavy deceleration to aid stability further.

The interior is sparse and functional, in keeping with the speedster’s racing car roots, and each model is fitted with a metal plate around the automatic shift lever engraved with Moss’s signature.

Under the bonnet is the same 640bhp 5.4-litre supercharged V8 as the standard SLR which punches the Stirling Moss from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 217mph. Just 75 cars will be produced, and they will only be made available to a hand-picked group of clients who are already SLR owners. The price? £591,000.

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