The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster stands as a paragon of automotive exclusivity and racing pedigree. With a mere 22 kilometers on its odometer, this particular model is virtually untouched, preserved in a prestigious private collection in Saudi Arabia. Being one of just six roadsters ever produced, it represents not only a remarkable feat of engineering but also a direct link to one of the most celebrated race cars of the late 1990s: the Clk Gtr Mercedes.
To understand the CLK-GTR’s significance, one must delve into its origins in the fiercely competitive FIA GT Championship. Mercedes-Benz, driven by a relentless pursuit of motorsport supremacy, conceived the CLK-GTR as their weapon of choice. However, to comply with homologation regulations, they were obligated to create a limited number of road-legal versions of their GT1 race car – the very machine they campaigned on the track. The FIA GT Championship mandated that manufacturers produce at least 25 street-legal iterations of their GT1 entrants, ensuring a genuine connection between race cars and production models, rather than allowing for pure prototypes.
Mercedes-Benz meticulously adhered to these rules, crafting 20 coupes and an incredibly scarce six roadsters. The inaugural street-legal CLK-GTR emerged in late 1998, but the roadster variant, unveiled subsequently, amplified the exclusivity with its open-top configuration, setting it apart even within the already limited CLK-GTR lineage. Both coupe and roadster versions mirrored their racing counterparts in fundamental engineering aspects, with only subtle modifications for road usability, such as a marginally increased ride height and the incorporation of comfort-enhancing features.
Alt text: Front three quarter view of a silver Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster parked on a paved surface, showcasing its aggressive aerodynamic design and open top.
Beneath the sculpted hood of the CLK-GTR Roadster resided a formidable 6.9-liter V12 engine, directly derived from the racing version, unleashing a breathtaking 612 horsepower. This potent powerplant propelled the car from 0 to 60 mph in just over 3 seconds, achieving a top speed of approximately 208 mph. The CLK-GTR reigned as one of the most powerful and fastest automobiles of its era, delivering a raw, undiluted racing experience on public roads that few vehicles could rival.
The genesis of the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR traces back to the 1997 FIA GT Championship, where it immediately asserted its dominance. Equipped with a 6.0-liter V12 engine and cutting-edge aerodynamics, the race-spec CLK-GTR clinched the championship title in its debut year, solidifying Mercedes’ standing in the GT1 category. Remarkably, the car was engineered and developed in a mere 128 days, a testament to the exceptional engineering capabilities of Mercedes-AMG. The CLK-GTR sustained its triumph in 1998, securing another FIA GT Championship title, although it encountered heightened competition from rivals like Porsche and Toyota.
Alt text: Side view of the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR race car in action on a track, highlighting its racing livery and aerodynamic profile during the 1997 FIA GT Championship.
Following the FIA GT Championship’s decision to discontinue its GT1 category after the 1998 season, Mercedes-Benz shifted its focus to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, embarking on the development of the Mercedes-Benz CLR. The CLR represented a refined evolution of the CLK-GTR, meticulously engineered for the rigors of endurance racing. However, the CLR’s Le Mans campaign in 1999 became infamous due to a critical issue of aerodynamic instability. The cars tragically became airborne at high speeds during both practice sessions and the race itself, culminating in spectacular and concerning crashes. These incidents prompted Mercedes-Benz to withdraw from top-tier endurance racing for a considerable period thereafter.
This particular CLK-GTR Roadster, boasting a mere 22 kilometers on its odometer, serves as an immaculate representation of the road-going embodiment of Mercedes’ GT1 racing heritage. The open-top configuration of the roadster variant elevates its rarity, adding an additional layer of exclusivity to what was already an extraordinarily limited-production, high-performance supercar.
With its roots firmly planted in racing history, the CLK-GTR Roadster unequivocally stands as one of the most significant homologation cars ever brought to fruition. The convergence of its extreme rarity, direct lineage to a championship-winning race car, and pristine, untouched condition solidifies its status as a highly coveted collector’s item. Witnessing one of these automotive masterpieces in such impeccable condition is akin to stepping back in time to the golden era of GT1 racing, a testament to Mercedes-Benz’s engineering prowess and racing legacy.
