With the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster coming to the end of its production in 2009, McLaren engineers are set to give it a fitting send-off with a limited edition Speedster model.

The SLR Speedster will be limited to just 75 units worldwide and will form the final iteration of the SLR to roll off the production line.

Following original 1950s inspiration, the low-slung SLR Speedster is a streamlined 485kW racer theoretically capable of speeds of up to 337km/h.

True to its heritage there’s no roof at all and only a modest windscreen which has meant the McLaren test driver in these pics has opted for a crash helmet to avoid a Clarkson Ariel Atom-type pic opportunity.

Certainly not what you would call practical, it will most likely feature as the centrepiece of an oil Sheik’s supercar collection - especially with an anticipateed price tag of roughly $1.2million.