Dec 10, 20202 min read

Beauty & the Beast: 31k-mile 2005 CL65 AMG

The W215 chassis CL has really grown in popularity and value recently. The big body coupe always stands out in a crowd and the pillarless design is truly a thing of beauty. This 2005 CL65 AMG has been submitted by one of our readers, Matthew, and we dare say there aren't many left in this condition. With only a hair over 31k miles, this CL65 is in excellent shape both inside and out. The seller has acquired the car from a fellow Mercedes collector two years ago when it had 29,500 miles and has added only 1,500 miles since.

The car is finished in Black (040) paint which appears flawless. The seller states the car has undergone a paint-correction as needed and also ceramic coated for long-lasting shine and protection. Specific to the 65's, the 19" two-piece AMG wheels are finished in a dark gunmetal color which perfectly compliments the polished lip. The seller has installed new Michelin Pilot PS4 tires which now have less than 500 miles on them. An AMG bodykit featuring both bumpers and side skirts give the car a classic yet sporty appearance, a common trait of all AMGs from this era.

The interior is equally as nice with a leather stitched dash and woodgrain trim adorning the center console and doors. The Anthracite AMG Leather (581A) is in outstanding condition with only the slightest wear visible by creases on the driver seat bolster. The seller notes the pixelation on the infotainment screen although it does not effect the usability of the system. Both front seats are multi-contour and the rear seats appear to have never been used. In addition to the COMAND unit with navigation, the car also has a rear electric sunshade.

Now that we've talked about the beauty of the car, lets talk about the beast. Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 rated at 604 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque when new. This makes the 4,800 lb coupe capable of a sprint to 60 mph in a mere 4.3 seconds. The seller states that coils have been replaced within the last 3,000 miles and the car performs as it should.

While these cars tipped a $180k MSRP when new, they can be still had for a fraction of that today although we expect values to continue to rise for examples such as this. The seller is asking $35,900 which is on par with the current values. Recently, another black 2005 CL65 with similar mileage sold on Bring A Trailer for $36,250 plus a 5% auction premium. Examples like this do not come up often and if you're brave enough to take on the twin-turbocharged V12, you'll get to enjoy a driving experience that is unmatched.