2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK SLK230 Kompressor

2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Kompressor 
Private Collection | Display-Only | Not For Sale 

The 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Kompressor is a compact, two-seater luxury roadster famous for pioneering the modern power-retractable hardtop roof. Internally designated as part of the R170 generation, it was designed to be a smaller, lighter, and more affordable alternative to the flagship Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, competing directly with rivals like the BMW Z3 and Porsche Boxster. 

It featured an M111 2.3-liter supercharged "Kompressor" inline-4 cylinder outputting 185 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque, and was offered in rear-wheel drive with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. 

The defining feature of the SLK is its electro-hydraulic steel roof. It transforms the car from a quiet, weather-sealed coupe to an open-top roadster in just 25 seconds at the push of a button, and, unlike mid-engine competitors, it features a surprisingly practical layout with decent cabin storage and a usable trunk when the top is up. 

For its era, The SLK came heavily equipped with safety tech, including integrated roll bars behind the seats, a reinforced A-pillar, dual front and side airbags, and anti-lock brakes. 

The Designo Copper Edition is a rare, limited-production variant of the R170-generation roadster that was ordered through Mercedes-Benz's exclusive Designo (pronounced deh-zee-nyo) personalization program. Rather than changing the performance of the car, this package introduced a striking, high-end cosmetic configuration that was only offered for a single year. 

The Designo Copper Edition is distinguished by its unique color palette and high-end interior appointments, featuring Designo Pearl Orange paint (code 020U) over an upgraded black and orange two-tone Nappa leather interior, with door cards, steering wheel, shift knob and roll bars all trimmed in black/orange leather. The orange accents even extend to the floor mats, with an orange leather strip around their edge, and Designo embroidered in the center of the mat. 

While precise production numbers vary by source, it is widely considered one of the rarest SLK editions. Estimates from Barret Jackson suggest only about 127 units were imported to the U.S. market, with even fewer equipped with the AMG package. 

Because the Designo program tacked a significant premium onto the original base price of the car—often pushing the MSRP well past $60,000 in 2000—very few buyers opted for it. The Designo Copper and its sibling, the Designo Electric Green, are considered highly collectible modern classics today by Mercedes enthusiasts due to their low production numbers and unapologetic turn-of-the-century styling.