From initial sketches to Bernd Schneider’s first test lap in April 1997 at Jarama, the Mercedes-Benz Sportabteilung and its motorsport partners engineered the all-conquering CLK GTR in a mere 128 days. This brand-new racing sports car immediately demonstrated championship-winning potential.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR stunned the motorsport world. Its dominance was so profound it essentially led to the demise of the very FIA GT1 series it was built for. Engineered to an exceptional standard, the CLK GTR remains a revered racing sports car design of the modern era.
Alongside the McLaren F1 and Porsche 911 GT1, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe is a cornerstone of the “GT1 Trinity.” These rare, contemporary rivals competed in the FIA GT1 class, representing the pinnacle of late-1990s racing sportscar engineering. Among these legendary models, the CLK GTR has always stood out as the most exclusive and untamed. This comprehensive appeal is reinforced by its absolute dominance in securing consecutive FIA GT1 Championships in 1997 and 1998.
Image alt text: Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe in action on the race track, showcasing its aerodynamic design and racing pedigree.
The road-going “Strassenversion” of the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe, with its world-record price tag exceeding $1.5 million, hardly deterred the approximately 300 prospective buyers vying for AMG’s limited run of just 25 homologation examples mandated by FIA regulations. Ultimately, only 20 CLK GTR Coupes were produced by HWA AG and AMG’s Special Vehicle Construction Office between 1998 and 1999. Today, these examples are universally recognized as among the most coveted automobiles globally, judged by nearly every conceivable metric and within every collecting circle. Perhaps only the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe rivals the CLK GTR’s claim to being the quintessential “Silver Arrow” for the road.
From Race Track to Road: The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe Conversion
In a strategy reversing McLaren’s approach with its F1 supercar, AMG homologated the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe by essentially creating road-legal versions of their race cars.
Designed concurrently with the race variant and incorporating many shared components, the CLK GTR’s chassis features a central carbon-fiber composite tub, complemented by carbon-fiber body panels and a stressed-member powertrain design. This innovative construction directly integrates major components with the tub, enhancing rigidity and performance. The inaugural road-legal Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe was presented to the FIA on April 1, 1997, just six days before Mercedes-Benz works driver Bernd Schneider achieved both fastest lap and pole position in the CLK GTR’s competitive debut at the Hockenheimring.
Image alt text: Front three-quarter view of a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe Strassenversion, highlighting its aggressive stance and road-legal features.
Production of the twenty customer-bound Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe Strassenversion models commenced in the summer of 1998, over a year after the model had already secured its first FIA GT1 Championship. Modifications from the contemporary race cars were minimal. Air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, leather upholstery, an integrated rear wing, cabin insulation, and a pair of luggage compartments constituted the most notable additions to these Strassenversionen. However, the customer cars did receive a unique engine: the 623-horsepower, 6.9-liter naturally-aspirated M297 V-12. This engine has since gained further global recognition as the powerhouse behind multiple generations of Pagani supercars.
Unlike the McLaren F1 and Porsche 911 GT1, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe genuinely mirrors a race car on public roads. Gear changes are exceptionally rapid, thanks to a paddle-operated six-speed sequential manual gearbox directly derived from the GT1 racing models. The car’s mid-mounted 6.9-liter V-12 engine, a structural element of the chassis, is positioned immediately behind the driver, generating an intensely raw and menacing auditory experience.
The Celebrated Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe: Chassis Number 07
This particular Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe, chassis number 07, was completed at HWA AG on April 27, 1999. Intriguingly, its color scheme distinctly references Mercedes-Benz’s rich racing heritage. The exterior is finished in the company’s official racing color, Iridium Silver Metallic (775), while the competition-inspired interior is trimmed in blue-gray tartan gabardine fabric. This fabric choice evokes the 1955 Mille Miglia-winning 300 SLR race car driven by Sir Stirling Moss and navigated by Denis Jenkinson. Only two other GTR Coupes are known to feature this distinctive upholstery.
Image alt text: Interior detail of the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe showcasing the blue-gray tartan gabardine fabric seats, a unique and heritage-inspired design choice.
GTR number 07 was initially delivered to Switzerland on May 12, 1999, registered in St. Gallen as “SG 110706.” It remained in Switzerland with its original owner, used sparingly, until November 2010. Subsequently, it was kept in a private German collection until 2017, before being acquired by the previous owner through marque specialists Kienle Automotive. At that time, the odometer read 6,376 kilometers (3,961 miles).
Prior to delivery to its previous owner, SPS Automotive, a motorsports firm founded in 2003 by former HWA AG employees based in Willsbach, Germany, comprehensively serviced the car. Notable service items included the replacement of the fuel bladder, a new fire extinguisher, and a fresh set of custom OZ alloy wheels.
Upon completion of this service, CLK GTR number 07 was imported to the United States in October 2017 and federalized for road use by JK Technologies. After five years in a prominent private collection of modern racing sports cars, it was purchased by the current consignor in April 2021, with just 6,448 kilometers (4,006 miles) indicated on its impressive 340-kph speedometer.
Following acquisition, DK Engineering performed over $71,000 of mechanical servicing and personalized refinements, including modifications to the driver’s seat, headliner, and the fabrication of a bespoke sports exhaust system. A new fuel bladder was also installed at this time.
Since leaving DK Engineering, Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe number 07 has been actively enjoyed, regularly driven, and widely exhibited from the consignor’s distinguished collection of limited-production supercars. Notable appearances include highly acclaimed showings at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Lime Rock Historics.
However, the most significant claim to fame for CLK GTR number 07, beyond its exceptional provenance and well-documented history, is its prominent role in Carfection Films’ acclaimed 2021 “Ultimate Group Test” video series. In this series, it starred alongside the McLaren F1 chassis 037 and Porsche 911 GT1 chassis 005. This video series has amassed nearly 3 million views on YouTube and was extensively featured in Octane magazine.
Presented today with fewer than 7,015 kilometers (4,358 miles) at the time of cataloging, this remarkable example of Mercedes-Benz’s most exclusive and highly sought-after homologation special is offered with all original accessories. These include three original AMG “Elephants feet,” manuals, and a serialized charger and luggage set.
Although CLK GTR number 07 is currently fitted with larger OZ light alloy wheels and tires commissioned by SPS, its original wheels and factory exhaust system (the exhaust system fitted during federalization) are included in the sale, along with a folio of service invoices from DK Engineering, JK Technologies, and SPS Automotive.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe arguably represents the closest a road-going Mercedes-Benz production car has ever come to its race-ready counterpart. Its performance metrics are astonishing, and this exceptional specimen is currently available for sale as HWA AG celebrates its 25th Anniversary. The CLK GTR remains the most significant creation in the constructor’s celebrated history and a cornerstone model in the long and proud lineage of Mercedes-Benz’s legendary “Silver Arrows.”
Considering its status as one of the rarest German sports racing cars ever manufactured, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe embodies the esteemed traditions of homologated GT racing and has indelibly secured its place in automotive history as an instant classic among classics.
Image alt text: Rear view of the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe highlighting its rear wing, taillights, and powerful stance.
