If you're shopping for a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG finished in Alubeam silver here in the United States, you're in luck, but you'll have to be patient. A reader dropped us a note to let us know that a Dallas, Texas dealer apparently informed a friend of his that Alubeam had not been released for the American market yet.

We checked with Mercedes-Benz USA spokesman Rob Moran, who tells us that the special finish is indeed available. Alubeam first appeared on the 40th anniversary CL65 AMG several years ago. If you haven't seen it, Alubeam is a stunning metallic finish that looks like molten silver.

According to Moran, the Alubeam bodies are hand-painted at Mercedes-Benz's Sindelfingen factory, while other colors are applied at a Magna Steyr body shop. The more labor intensive process means that only about 2-3 cars a week are available for U.S. market allocation. Hopefully the customer and dealer are just having a miscommunication about the longer wait time, because the special paint is definitely available. A tip of the hat to Ross!