This Luxury V12 Sleeper Is One Of The Rarest Mercedes In The World

This 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class looks extraordinarily unassuming. It’s finished in simple Brilliant Silver, and looks stock and unadorned. But it’s secretly one of the rarest examples in the world. It’s an S63 AMG. Such a model was not offered in the U.S., and few of them were offered anywhere else. Besides the low production numbers, what makes it special is the V12 sitting under the hood.

Only 70 Were Built

This S63 is being offered by RM Sotheby’s, and according to both the auction house and Autoevolution, the model was only available for a month. The auction house reports that only 70 were ever built, with this one going to an owner in Japan. That year, the ultimate AMG offered in most markets was the S55, which had a naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8. It made 355 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. It was actually a little less powerful than the S600, which used a naturally aspirated 5.8-liter V12 making 362 hp and 391 lb-ft. This S63 used a version of that V12 bumped up to 6.3 liters, and it made, according to Autoevolution, 437 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. The outlet also reported a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-62 mph time of 5.7 seconds. Car and Driver managed to get an S55 of the time to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, so the S63 was only about as quick to 60 as the V8 car. Also, the S63 was quickly eclipsed by the force-fed 2003 S-Classes. The supercharged S55 and turbocharged S600 both made more power and torque than this unusual naturally-aspirated sedan.

A Clean And Well-Loved Example

This particular S63 is classy and cushy. The low-key silver exterior is contrasted with a rich black leather interior with chestnut wood everywhere from the dash to the rear seat tables. It’s a long-wheelbase model with heated and ventilated rear seats, independent rear air conditioning and even a TV tuner. It also came with the Active Body Control suspension, and this particular one has a set of 18-inch wheels that are about the flashiest part of the car.

The car looks immaculate, and that’s doubly impressive because it has been driven quite a bit. RM Sotheby’s reports 136,208 kilometers on the clock, which comes to 84,635 miles. Considering its rarity and its excellent condition, it’s not that surprising that the auction house expects the car to go for between $100,000 and $150,000. It will be going across the block at the auction house’s event in Dubai, which runs from April 23 to April 28.

Source: RM Sotheby’s, Autoevolution, Car and Driver